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Some sermon notes since March 2011March
20th THE
FOOLISHNESS OF GOD Major
Elwyn Harries began with this “ice-packed text” in 1 Corinthians 1
v25. How can our
Almighty God be “foolish”? We
were invited to consider Noah, building a boat half way up a mountain in a
desert land; Moses waving a stick at Red Sea with the Egyptian troops in
hot pursuit; the disciples offering a couple of loaves and fishes to a
crowd of 5.000 hungry people. As Elwyn put it. “ Only when men and women
act on the foolish ideas of God can miracles happen. In Paul’s letter,
the phrase refers of course to the Cross, God’s “most foolish” idea.
Yet the power of the account of Christ’s crucifixion is undeniable
in persuading sinners that they are truly loved and forgiven. But
the cross was not God’s last foolish idea. He continues to have them and
we ignore them and another miracle is wasted. It takes an act of faith
(like that of Noah and Moses and the rest) to experience the miracles of
God. We need to hear God’s voice, to grasp his foolish idea for us, to
believe it and to act on it. (see also Matthew 14 v22-33 : Peter walks on
water) March
27th WHY
NOT BELIEVE IT? Rev
John Edwards revisited the account of the Samaritan woman at the well and
her conversation with Jesus. She is deeply affected by his promise of
living water gushing up like a spring in those who believe and trust him.
And her response turns into action at once :”Come and see!” she
invited friends and neighbours. John recalled with affection a colleague
from his time of ministry in Penrith, a Pentecostal minister. John had
been impressed by one element of Pentecostal theology in particular: the
strong belief in God’s promises. But can that promise of living water,
an inward source of spiritual refreshment and power, really apply to a
community of Christians in Woodford Green two thousand years later? Why
not? asked John. “Whoever
believes” must mean “whoever”! But our modern reliance on material
things, regular upgrades for all our high tech gadgetry, all this has
weakened the Church We lose sight of our need of God, we fail to tap into
the rich sources of energy and
power that the Spirit gives. Life with Christ, said John, is peace beyond
all understanding. John challenged us to read again the relevant part of
our church’s statement of faith : “I believe in the Holy Spirit whose
indwelling power enriches and guides my life.” Is that really true of
us? April
10th TESTING Lent
is traditionally a time of self-testing, but in fact seasons of testing
will keep coming all through life, said Revd. Neil Spencer. “The enemy
is continually trying to rob us of the fullness of life Jesus came to
bring.” (John 10 v10) We all at different times have wilderness
experiences, with the same kinds of temptations faced by Jesus. (Matthew 4
v1-11) “If you are the Son of God…” taunts the Devil, challenging
Jesus as to his identity. And we too are tempted to question, “Am I
really a child of God, loved and forgiven?” “Throw yourself
down…”, suggests the Devil. In other words, insist on a sign, a proof,
that God is God and will save you. But God says we need faith, not proof.
The Devil appeals to our times of insecurity and doubt. “Worship me and
all this is yours”. The Devil plays on the human need to be significant,
important, influential. He appeals to our pride. But our
“significance” comes from fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives. So
how do we resist the devil’s wiles? Recognise
the enemy, repent (turn away
from wrong values) rebuke and
renounce the Devil., replace
wrong thoughts, fill our minds with what is good, receive
the blessing of the presence of the Holy Spirit. April
17th NO
SECOND HAND DONKEY Truth
and love are often better communicated in deeds rather than words, said
Chris Winward, referring particularly on this Palm Sunday to the symbolism
of the Messiah entering April
22nd WORDS
FROM THE CROSS Canon
Rodney Matthews invited us to
listen again to the words of Jesus from the Cross, pondering and praying
over each of them in turn. “Father forgive them, they do not know what
they do”. How do we respond to pain and hurt? Dear
Lord, help each one of us to try to love and forgive as Jesus loved and
forgave. “Today you will
be with me in April 24th Canon
Rodney Matthews shared a number of thoughts on the account of the
resurrection in John’s Gospel It had struck him afresh how John
“majors on the women” (though Paul later “airbrushes them out”.)
John has the advantage as a historian, because he could say, “I
was there!” The stone, said Rodney, had not been removed to let Jesus
out but to let the disciples in. And in dashes Peter and sees the grave
clothes “lying where they had been”. Jesus had not been
“unwrapped”. The clothes had no more been able to hold him than death
itself. And what of the idea that Jesus had in fact not died. The Roman
soldiers on execution duty were experienced and efficient. They had
techniques for ensuring that no victim survived. If his body had been
stolen the authorities could have produced him as evidence. And what of
the theory that the disciples stole the body and claimed he had risen?
Were they about to embrace martyrdom for a lie? No, they had been
transformed. And because he lives, so we can live also. John lists the
many witnesses who encountered the risen Jesus. The truth even for them
didn’t get through at once. We cannot truly believe either till we meet
with Jesus. We must search for him in prayer, in quietness, in the Bible,
in our hearts. (See John 20 and 1 Cor 15 v19-26) May
1st May
8th GOD
IN CREATION Revd
John Edwards began with some star-gazing: the statistics of the universe
running into trillions rather than millions and stretching our far beyond
what can be grasped by our minds; all this makes us feel justifiably
small. Yet our daring belief is that the “hands that flung stars into
space” were the hands of the Man who walked in A
MIND-BOGGLING EXPERIENCE Was
it just another day for those fishermen who put down their nets and left
everything behind to follow Jesus? That
was Revd Stephen Henwood’s starter for one. It’s easy for us to lose
that first impact that Jesus had on us and we should look again at that
first sermon the fishermen listened to on the mountain. The beatitudes set
out not what we have to do to deserve God’s gifts, but what we can
expect from God as we leave the past behind and follow Jesus. In other
words, it’s not about the Law but about Grace. It’s about lifestyle;
being different from others is what attracts others to Christianity. We
are to be light and salt, as Jesus put it. It’s about how we deal with
life, with anger for example. Loving our enemies! It’s about Trust.
Learning trust is a day to day experience. Blessing
to those who mourn, to those who pray rather than worry, to those
who see there is no going back, any more than those fisherman did, but
only onward with lives founded on the rock that is Jesus, our Lord. EATING
WITH SINNERS REACTING
TO CHANGE Revd
Dr Stephen Heap drew parallels between the disciples, bewildered and
behind locked doors in the upper room at Pentecost and the conditions
faced by the Church in the SHIELDS OF BRONZE Revd Chris Damp
transported us back into the reign of Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 12
v1-12) and the sacking of the June
26th BORN
FROM ABOVE Revd
John Edwards gave an advance hint of his theme with a story for the
children featuring a whale in residence in a suburban garden pond. A
notion entirely feasible to the imagination of a child. It was a similar
leap of the imagination that Nicodemus needed to grasp the concept of
being “born again” or (more nearly translated) “born from above”.
We too should cherish our imagination: Jesus was raised up on a cross.
This is an “earthy” historical fact. But we must raise our eyes and
imagination to understand the significance of this: the offer of eternal
life through faith in the power of that cross. Heaven, not just “up
there” but here and now all around us but in another dimension. Through
faith in Jesus we are already citizens of this other Kingdom. Born from
above: a glorious gift drawing us into the July
3rd THOMAS:
A VERY HUMAN SAINT The
familiar phrase, “Doubting Thomas” not only gives a narrow impression
of that disciple, it also stigmatises doubt, a human quality not to be
disparaged. Revd.Richard Wyber pointed out that Thomas, in his need to
witness the nail wounds for himself, was only asking for evidence the
other disciples had already seen. And in that moment he recognised that he
was face to face with the living God. Thomas has two other cameo
appearances in the Gospels: when Jesus plans to return to July
17th AN
OVERLOOKED PARABLE Revd
Vic Jackopson shared a recent discovery that had much excited him hidden
in some verses in John 14, so well known to Christians. But clearly
holding an extra meaning. One that would have been very apparent to his
Jewish listeners at the time. The words of comfort about the many rooms in
the Father’s mansion and the promise to go ahead and prepare a place for
his chosen people is an echo of the traditional Jewish betrothal contract.
A binding agreement upon which the groom would return to his father’s
house, possibly to build an extension as a home for his future bride. (To
Christians a promise of a heavenly home). A choice made by the father with
the help of a matchmaker but one which the bride (Gen 24) was free to
reject. The bride-price (7
years for Jacob, see Gen 29) but for Christians the costly price paid on
the Cross. The ritual cleansing at the betrothal and the cup of wine under
the canopy, all evoking for Christians the sacraments of baptism and
communion. The groom would offer an extra gift at the wine ceremony, in
John 14 the gift of the Holy Spirit and of God’s unique indefinable
peace. The parable of the wise virgins fills out the picture. They like
Christ’s body, the Church, wait eagerly. ready for the groom’s return,
and in the meantime they are wholeheartedly faithful to him. MADE
TO MEASURE The
pupil of a rabbi would always have required an impressive CV, and once
accepted – many were rejected – would need to study relentlessly, to
learn and memorise every detail of the law. A heavy burden indeed. But
now, there came along this new-style rabbi, from despised “ August
14th MY
GOD Mr
Joe Mulrooney led us through a psalm made famous because it begins with
the words of Jesus on the cross: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken
me?” A cry of utter desolation. But,
noted Joe, it was still addressed to “my” God. The psalm moves through
a sequence of contrasting cameos, from despair to hope. God is
transcendent, “enthroned in the praises of his people”, God has
rescued his people in the past. But now the psalmist is being mocked for
his faith, hanging on by his fingernails. He feels like a worm. But
another different picture follows: God the midwife, bringing him into he
world and placing him at his mother’s breast.. “Be not far from me”
is his plea. Wild animals surround him, bulls, lions, ruffians with axes.
Our man is paralysed. God is suddenly the adversary : “You lay me in the
dust!” His cries crescendo: “ O my help, hasten to my aid!” Then a
complete change of direction (so much so that some scholars have suggested
there are two separate psalms here, but Joe disagreed.) Somehow out of the
depths, he finds a way through and urges others “in the midst of the
assembly” to give praise and thanks to God, to proclaim his kingly
power. He takes heart from the sense of the continuity of praise, “to
the ends of the earth”, in past years,
and even into the future, on the lips of “people yet unborn”. August
28th MIRACLES Keith
Brame began with the everyday miracles we take for granted: the birth of a
baby, for example. Turning to the Gospels, he listed four types of
miracles, all, as it happens, exemplified in Luke 8. Nature miracles (the
stilling of the storm) mental illness or demon possession as it was then
described (Legion) Physical illness (the woman with the issue of blood)
and raising from the dead (Jairus’ daughter). In today’s reading from
Luke 7, the miracle was in this last category, the restoring of her young
dead only son to a grieving widow. “Jesus’
heart went out to her”. This, said Keith, was the crux of the miracle
(and every miracle.) The power of love.
On the way to respond to an appeal from Jairus to come to his dying
daughter, Jesus nevertheless had
time to minister to the woman with the issue of blood, just as he delayed
several days when going to the dying Lazarus. Time was not an issue for
him. He had all the time in the world, said Keith.
These Gospel accounts Keith called “Love as History”, the
evidence of what the greatest depths of love will achieve. It is seen,
said Keith, all through the history of the church, even with all its
failings. Perhaps we can only perform small miracles, according to the
depth of our love, and through the power of the Holy Spirit. See Ephesians
3 v 14-19 where we find Keith’s overarching theme spelt out: “I have
come that you might have Life in all its fullness”. WISDOM? Revd
Claire Wilson looked at contrasting Scripture passages that have something
to say about wisdom. In Proverbs 8 the writer speaks of wisdom in terms of
“an ethic of prudence”. Those who behave morally, he says, will be
esteemed and loved. We all
need to be loved and respected. Reputation is important. So these are
useful precepts. Yet in Luke 9 Jesus encourages what could be seen as
reckless behaviour. Follow me, he says, and leave the dead to bury their
dead. Drop everything! The wisdom of Proverbs, suggested Claire, has
limitations. It has a tameness, a caution, a lack of passion about it.
Jesus advances “a more adventurous ethic”. Sometimes we are to “let
go of the safety rails”. Following him will disrupt a respectable life
at times. People may disapprove. Of course we do need to get our daily
life into repair. Good order. Jobs. Reputation. But somewhere in each of
us there needs to be a more
reckless spirit. The same “fire in the bones” that the prophets all
experienced. We should keep that part of us “up and running” too. September
11th SPEAK
TRUTH TO POWER October
9th October
23rd BIBLE
SUNDAY Judith
Schultz used material produced by the Bible Society to focus on the huge
impact that the Bible has had in terms of changing lives, touching hearts
and minds, not just informing but transforming those who read and learn
and inwardly digest it. The two readings for the day celebrated the
central importance of the Scriptures in cementing the community of God’s
people. In Nehemiah chapter 8 the people themselves ask that the
Scriptures be read aloud, elevated quite literally in front of them while
they stand to listen. Many weep, such is the ability of God’s words to
move men’s hearts. The psalmist (Psalm
119 v9-16) speaks of his continual delight in reading and memorising and
“treasuring God’s promises in his heart”. The Bible, Judith reminded
us, speaks to every situation, across status, gender, age, race. The words
of one of the special Bibles Society prayers brought these thoughts
to a conclusion, directly applicable to us today: “Help us find our place in God’s story and enable us to understand and apply it in our everyday lives”. October
30th HAPPINESS Jennifer
Dorman drew contrasts between ”happiness” and “blessing”.
Happiness, in today’s celebrity culture, is associated with luxury,
possessions, wealth. But there is, she said, “no recipe for
happiness”, and “the right to happiness” is a very dubious concept.
The word “blessing” is little used these days, but we see clearly in
the account of Abraham’s experience, that blessing came as a direct
result of obedience. (Genesis 12) The blessing he received was in a sense
simply the resourcing needed to fulfil a mandate. The Beatitudes (Matthew
5) present a radical view of blessing, as a by-product not of self-seeking
but of quite the opposite. It comes to those who recognise their need of
God, who mourn over the world’s brokenness, who willingly give service
to others in need, who are full of forgiveness and mercy, transparent in
their living and committed to the slow, laborious process of making peace.
It is a high calling to an ethical and moral life. Happiness, blessing
(whichever word you use) is the result of delighting in God and the ways
of his kingdom. DANIEL’S
VISION Revd
John Richardson tackled an abstruse chapter in the Book of Daniel. Moving
from Aramaic, the common man’s speech, which had been used in the
“Sunday School chapters” 1 – 7 featuring the den of lions and fiery
furnace, chapter 8 switches to the more formal, more academic Hebrew, as
if to signal “a change of gear”. John
detected a shift from the hopeful ending of chapter 7 with the everlasting
Kingdom being given to “the saints of the most high”, that is to
Mankind. In contrast, through the whole of chapter 8, whatever
interpretation is put on the imagery of rams and goats, the
impression of these powerful visual images is one of despair that
human nature has stooped to become no more than bestial.
Here is dereliction and despair and Daniel is sick at the horror of
it. John moved on to consider the predicament of mankind today, so puffed
up with the notion that it is man who is God that there is no “higher
reference point” in our debates around the nature
of Truth. Daniel speaks of “truth overthrown and deceit
prospering”. Does that describe our world today? And if so, do we, in
the words of the old hymn” dare to be a Daniel”, speaking up for the
Truth? (And “What is Truth?”) GRACE STORIES Rob
Keane reminded us that “stories have power”. From earliest Biblical
records, God’s people are urged to pass on to their children not just
the stories of what God has done in history but in their personal lives.
In 1 Peter chapter 3, we are urged to be ready to give reasons for the
hope that we have in Christ. The experience of Rob and Neil, working with
young people in Redbridge Schools, had shown that there is great eagerness
to know not just what the Bible teaches but what the personal experience
of God had been for Rob and Neil. Personal testimony. Personal testimony
increases our own faith and the faith of those who hear it. It fosters
hope and expectation that God can and will “do the same for me”. We
each have treasures to pass
on. As a church, Rob proposed,we might well develop this idea by recording
incidents in our communal life from its foundation, and incorporating them
into our church’s own liturgy of thanksgiving. An ongoing testimony of
how God’s Spirit has worked amongst us, to build up the faith and
confidence of the church. (See
Psalm 78 v1-17; Mark 5 v1-20; Deut 6 v21; Hebrews 11) December
4th LOVE
WINS Rev
John Edwards shared some of his own excitement in reading a book that is
making the news in churches round the world, “Love Wins” by Rob Bell.
He questioned the validity of holding the concepts
of Heaven and Hell in equal balance, quoting the surprising fact
that in the Bible Hell is mentioned only 13 times, never in the Old
Testament, whereas Heaven is mentioned 497 times, 256 in the Old and 241
in the New. Scripture is “strongly biased in favour of Heaven”. John
invited us to look again at the account of the Prodigal Son where we find
that, for both sons, there are choices on offer between Heaven and Hell,
in the here and now. Sunk in despair, in his pig sty, the prodigal
experiences just a glimmer of light Better, he feels, to be a “second
class citizen”, a slave, in his father’s household than far away,
worthless, lost, desolate. But his father’s view is entirely different.
It’s an occasion for feasting and celebration. His son has a choice. Is
his picture of things the valid one, or his father’s?
Similarly, the older son is stewing in resentment, pictures himself
as little better than a slave, unappreciated and taken for granted. But
his view is the reverse of his father’s. “You are always with me and
everything I have is yours”. He has, like his brother, already inherited
his share. Which of these views is the valid one? Hell
/ Gehenna was a smoking rubbish dump in a valley South West of Jerusalem,
a man-made creation. People are perfectly capable still of making Hell for
themselves. But the overwhelming desire of the Father is to bring people
to Heaven. “Universal
restoration” (Acts 3 v 21)
The Scriptures are inclusive (see 1
Tim 2 v4; Psalm 65 v2; Isa 62 v2; Phil 2 v9;) Clearly
there has to be a judgement but we can leave unanswered the
question of “who goes where”? What is certain is that God is
more powerful than the Devil, and the Advent message is one of Hope, Joy
and Peace for ALL. The parable of the Prodigal Son has everything to do
with our own story: we are called to live the life of Heaven today. Heaven
doesn’t begin when we die but in the here and now. December
18th THE
UNEXPECTED Mrs
Christine Watts reminded us that our “Christian family history” goes
right back into the Old Testament. She considered how, like David with his
plan to build a permanent home for the Ark of the Covenant ( 11Samuel 7
v1-17) we must beware of projecting our own ideas on to our understanding
of God. “We cannot confine God in a box”. David was probably surprised
by the message from God he received via the prophet Nathan: ”Did I ever
ask for a house of cedar?” The annunciation was
yet another example of God doing the unexpected. He was turning the world
upside down. Certainly, said Christine, he was turning Mary’s life
upside down. God had not gone to the great and powerful, he had gone to a
woman in a world governed by men, to a young woman in a world governed by
“the elders”. She was in a desperately vulnerable predicament, not yet
married but pregnant in a land where public stoning was the likely
outcome. No wonder Mary was “greatly troubled”, yet she responded with
openness and trust. In her closing prayer, Christine reminded us, as we
“asked for God’s blessing” that Mary was assured by Gabriel that she
was “blessed by God” ; “a most highly favoured lady”. But
in her case “being in receipt of God’s blessing” brought no
comfortable outlook but rather huge responsibility and grief. So God will
look for the same openness and trust from us in blessing us. A challenging
thought! JOY Keith
White wholeheartedly embraced the theme of today’s Advent
candle-lighting ceremony, namely Joy. Joy is absolutely not a synonym for
happiness. It is a deeper, more inclusive quality deep in the heart, alive
whatever the circumstances. The Bible narrative is saturated with joy.
(Luke 1 the baby leapt for joy; Luke 2 v10 good news of mega joy. Psalm 16 verses 8 – 11; : 2 Cor 7 v4 Romans
13 v15, 14 v17 Matthew 13 v44 Isaiah 35
John 15, 16
verses 19 – 24 to name but a few) You need to know where to look, to
find this joy, said Keith. It is a completely free gift from God, the
source of our joy. C.S.Lewis discovered it on a bus going up Teddington
Hill. And what is this life of joy? Godspell got it right, said Keith The
Lord of the Dance. Suffering, yes, but nothing can take away the joy.
Think of Paul and Silas. They’ve been flogged in prison. They sing
hymns! And we are talking about “fullness of joy” We are to be filled,
not half-filled. Unspeakable,
unstoppable, a joy that seeks us through pain and helps us find the
rainbow through the rain. Joy in spite of pain. Joy to the World, the lord
has come. That is when our joy will be complete. We look forward to the
time of Shalom, the time when the whole Creation will be filled with
joy.
THE
UNEXPECTED Mrs
Christine Watts reminded us that our “Christian family history” goes
right back into the Old Testament. She considered how, like David with his
plan to build a permanent home for the Ark of the Covenant ( 11Samuel 7
v1-17) we must beware of projecting our own ideas on to our understanding
of God. “We cannot confine God in a box”. David was probably surprised
by the message from God he received via the prophet Nathan: ”Did I ever
ask for a house of cedar?” The annunciation
was yet another example of God doing the unexpected. He was turning
the world upside down. Certainly, said Christine, he was turning Mary’s
life upside down. God had not gone to the great and powerful, he had gone
to a woman in a world governed by men, to a young woman in a world
governed by “the elders”. She was in a desperately vulnerable
predicament, not yet married but pregnant in a land where public stoning
was the likely outcome. No wonder Mary was “greatly troubled”, yet she
responded with openness and trust. In her closing prayer, Christine
reminded us, as we “asked for God’s blessing” that Mary was assured
by Gabriel that she was “blessed by God” ; “a most highly favoured
lady”. But in her case
“being in receipt of God’s blessing” brought no comfortable outlook
but rather huge responsibility and grief. So God will look for the same
openness and trust from us in blessing us. A challenging thought!
THE
NAME OF JESUS Revd
John Thackray is a self-confessed “name dropper”, but as former
Chaplain of the King’s school, “I believe in
God the Father Almighty, Creator and Sustainer of the universe, in Jesus
Christ His Son, my Saviour, who died on the cross and rose again, and in
the Holy Spirit whose indwelling power enriches and guides my life.
I accept the Bible as God’s word and embrace the church as His
fellowship on earth. Through
faith I shall endeavour to live my life according to His way of love, and to
witness to Christ my Lord.” The early church’s first Statement of Faith is summarized in the first eleven verses of Philippians 2, in which we are extolled to have the same attitude as Christ himself. As his servants we should only take pride in the works of our master who himself took the nature of a servant in human likeness. January
8th DRAMA Order
out of chaos! The World has an identity! It is good in God’s eyes! Revd
Fiona Thomas emphasised the drama of the Creation story in Genesis. The
beginning of things! Turning to the Gospels, she contrasted the
“beginnings” adopted by their authors: Luke begins in a temple.
Matthew goes back to Abraham. John goes back to the Creation of the World.
But Mark (“You’d think he’d never heard of the Nativity!”
said Fiona) he is the
dramatist! He goes straight to the “nub of the thing”, the
beginning of Jesus’ ministry, his baptism at the hands of John the
Baptist. The forerunner with his trenchant message of “new ways for new
times”. An unheralded,
quiet, even humdrum event, this baptism of Jesus, but Mark makes quite
sure we know “what is going on”. This Nazarene from an outpost beyond
even January
15th Revd
Ivan Moore preached on two famous “faith” scriptures, Matthew 15 about
the mother desperate for her daughter to be healed, and Hebrews 11 the
inspiring catalogue of men and women of faith through the ages. Ivan saw
no contradiction between the insights of Religion and the discoveries of
Science. But there is much more to faith, he said, than using God as an
explanation to plug the gaps in our knowledge. Faith is based on the
experience of God’s love in our lives. Faith can often begin in
desperation. The distraught mother in Matthew 15, commended for her great
faith by Jesus, was seen as “an unlikely role model” for the disciples
whom he periodically chastised as “men of little faith”. The Canaanite
woman didn’t care what anyone thought of her, she stepped “out of her
culture” and persisted in believing that the power and healing of this
Messiah were not to be restricted to the Jewish race.. Is this fearless,
unashamed faith in God, this utter devotion, what we, who call ourselves
Christians, offer to our Lord? Faith
is, yes, the belief in things hoped for but not seen.
But the reward of faith “is to see what you believe”. January
22nd Revd
Andy Wilson based his sermon on an unusual passage in Isaiah 58 v 6-12,
which culminates in this image: “You shall be called a rebuilder of
broken walls.” Andy saw much of the work of the Salmon Centre in this
sort of way, a painstaking putting back together the shattered pots, piece
by piece. Stephen, for example, had escaped prison several times for
crimes he had committed. Then
been sent down for something of which he was innocent. A turning point for
him which led in time to self-worth and a job. Each piece put back is a
testimony to God working in us, said Andy. The “abundant life” that
Jesus promises is a remote prospect for many at the centre. A distant
dream for many, including ourselves, often. So how to get there? Jesus
described himself as the gate. The gate into the fold. But it’s a place
(John 10 v9) where we will be free to go in and out . We must not put up
fences but be open, a home with no forbidden places,
a base for exploring outside but knowing we can safely return. We
make that gateway a reality, said Andy, when we offer this kind of love.
What a reward recently when one of the young people who was asked what
picture he would draw of God’s Kingdom, just said, “ Salmon ”. January
29th A
BUNGY JUMP Nothing
ever stands still. The one thing in life that is constant is change. This
was Canon Ann Easter’s theme.
And change involves loss and we don’t like it. Some people “enjoy” /
“cling to” poor health or a rotten job. At least it is theirs and they
have something that doesn’t change. And the Church, said Ann, that is
the worst of all. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be.
Amen. Winston Churchill wrote, “To improve is to change; to be perfect
is to change often”. An
encounter with Jesus always changed everything. He was magnetic,
charismatic. He talked with
people about things they knew, the lost sheep, the lost coin. Contemporary
then. In his healing and
teaching ministry, he “never left people where they were. He moved them
on”. (See Mark 1 v 21-28) The worship of the local church should, yes,
sooth and bless, but also it should change and challenge us out of our
complacency. We learn here about the changelessness of God. With that
assurance we can say YES to change, without fear. Faith is after all more
like a bungy jump than a comfort blanket. February
12th PURPOSE Canon
Rodney Matthews tracked occasions
in our Lord’s ministry that clearly illustrated his “purpose-driven
life”. Mark 1 v28 : “I must proclaim my message. This is what I came
out to do”. (The only true joy is to discover what God’s purpose is
for your life and to pursue it, said Rodney. Your personal raison d’être.)
Jesus did nothing by accident. It was a whirlwind of activity, preaching,
healing, praying. The disciples were probably thrilled when, for example,
he spoke of “life more abundant” but perplexed when he spoke of his
death; “For that purpose I came to this hour. Not to judge, but to
save.” The purpose was still vividly clear to him as he stood before
Pilate: Jesus had come, he said, “to bear witness to the Truth.” He
had come “not to serve but to serve, to give his life as a ransom for
many”. And at the moment of
death, that cry of victory. “It is finished”.
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