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Reflections - Archive - 2009
These reflections are published most Sundays on the front page of our parish newsletter.
Current reflections may be found here.
The Magnificat (Luke 1.46b-55) is a beautiful piece of scripture. It’s a song of joy spoken to Elizabeth in response to all that had happened to Mary, from the archangel Gabriel bringing the news that as a virgin, Mary would become pregnant and bear a son, who would be named Jesus, who although fully human would also be known as the Son of God, to her acceptance without question of the role God had for her.
Mary praised God that he should choose her, just an ordinary village girl from a humble family, to be the way by which he would bring his blessing to the world. Through her baby, God was going to fulfill the great promise given to Abraham and David.
What faith Mary had in God that all would be well. Unplanned pregnancies are not always welcome news and would have given the local gossips a field day. But none of this mattered. Mary sings “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour…” It’s a song of humility before God who sends part of himself in Jesus to save us. It’s a song about the “Mighty One” who has done great things, in mercy and faithfulness.
During the season of Advent we have the opportunity of thinking about what God means to us. If the archangel had come to you, what would your response be? Can you open your heart and mind to Jesus Christ? Is there something that you need to let go of this Christmas time to make space for the Child of Bethlehem.
Jesus came as a baby into our world, grew to adulthood, died on a cross, and rose again to reconcile us to God. But it didn’t end there, for he will come again and nobody knows the time, place or date except God. Will you be ready to magnify the Lord and rejoice in God our Saviour, when he comes again?
Jesus is the reason for the season, may he bless us all with a deeper wisdom and understanding of what he means to us and for our lives.
Barbara Chambers
Christmas card writing, present shopping and wrapping, turkey ordering, food shopping, house & tree decorating, social event attending, carol singing, nativity watching, working out how to balance time with the relatives on both sides of the family, the list could go on… It’s that time of year again, less than 2 weeks to go – comes round quickly doesn’t it!
But can I encourage you just to pause for a few moments and slowly read the words of today’s New Testament passage from Paul’s letter to the Philippians:
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
It’s right that Christmas is a time of celebration, a time of joy, but in the midst of the busy-ness of it all let’s not lose sight of the reason for that joy – ‘Rejoice in the Lord’ Paul writes, rejoice in all that God has done for us. ‘The Lord is near’ – we’re preparing to celebrate the fact that he is with us, that he became one of us and though he’s now ascended, he’s not abandoned us in any way, the Lord is near and this season is a real reminder of that.
But this season isn’t always joyful and easy. In many different ways it does bring strains, stresses and anxieties. So let’s remember Paul’s encouragement, as tiredness kicks in and tempers fray, to ‘let our gentleness be evident to all’ and to bring our anxieties before God in prayer knowing that he is near and longs for us to turn to him. And as we bring our own anxieties to God in prayer, let’s also remember those for whom it is hard to find joy at this time, those who are lonely, those who are ill, those who are grieving, those who don’t know where their next meal is coming from, and so on. Praying that we and others may truly find and know the peace of God and all that he has done in Jesus Christ as we look towards this Christmas time.
Simon Elliott
In Luke Chapter 3 we read of the start of the work of John the Baptist. Some say that this is the moment when the gospel story truly begins.
He says those words that many of us remember as the opening lines from the musical Godspell – ‘Prepare Ye the way of the Lord.’ He brought a message of change. The message that when Jesus came everything would change.
So with Christmas just under three weeks off, how are our preparations going? Have you done the tree yet? I have! Ahem ahem. Have you started doing the cards, what about the presents? What do you get for the man who has everything? What choccy was in today’s page on the advent calendar? What will happen in this year’s Eastenders Special? Now I can’t talk. I love all of that stuff.
But have we got things in perspective? We are preparing ourselves to celebrate the birth of the one who turned all things upside down. Who brought good news for the poor, freedom for the oppressed, life in all its fullness. What part has that playing in our preparations? I wonder if anyone would produce a new style of Advent Calendar that would say – ‘Day One – go and feed someone who is hungry.’ ‘Day Two – go and see someone who is lonely.’ ‘Day Three – go and learn about modern slavery..’ ‘Day Four…’
‘Prepare ye the way of the Lord’ said John, so that everyone might see the ‘saving power of God…’ Amen
Steve Cornforth
Having something to look forward to is very important to most of us. We are sometimes willing to sacrifice things now so that we can benefit in the future, and very often we can even enjoy saving up so that we can have the satisfaction of buying something really important or even something really enjoyable like a Christmas hamper.
Many of the Old Testament prophets were given words by God of encouragement and hope. To me Advent speaks about hope for the future for us and for all of God’s people. When the Jewish people were living in danger, without any power to change things, God promised them, in Jeremiah 3.15, that a righteous branch would spring up from David, and then he goes on to say that Jerusalem will live in safety and it will be called “The Lord is our righteousness.”
As with many prophecies in scripture there remains much that is still to be fulfilled. We have seen Jesus revealed as the righteous branch but we await the new Jerusalem and his universal reign as king. As Christians we should be ready for and longing for his appearance and whatever we lay up now in heaven will be rewarded and we will never cease thanking God for his goodness to us.
Alan Lewney
Narnia is the place where it's always winter and never Christmas. It's a land described by CS Lewis in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and is being recreated in the old Christ Church, Waterloo, as I write these words. CS Lewis wrote his books because he wanted to present the claims of Christianity to a wider audience. One of the descriptions of Jesus in the Old Testament is the Lion of Judah.
In Narnia, the White Witch has cast her spell and made it a place of despair and hopelessness with nothing to look forward to, no spring or summer. Then Aslan, the lion, begins to move throughout the land and weaken the spell of the White Witch and hope is re-awakened. He began to help the inhabitants of Narnia overcome but still remained a mystery to them.
Although the White Witch spoke of a 'deep magic' that was at the heart of the universe, Aslan spoke of a 'deeper magic' from before the dawn of time.
You will have to read the book for yourself or better still go and visit Narnia over the next 3 Saturdays starting on 28 November to find out what it's all about and what happens. About 3000 school children have been booked in to see it during the week. Don't miss it!
Pete Spiers
Has anyone else been watching the series Life on BBC1? Each episode has been focusing on particular groups of animals – reptiles, mammals, fish, birds etc, and it has shown some incredible footage of different creatures (some I never even knew existed, like flying fish) and how they adapt to conditions and seek to survive; the amazing lengths they have to go to sometimes simply to get food and protect their families. I’m a particular fan of penguins, and this week I loved watching the epic journey that the mums and dads of a particular type of penguin in Antarctica undertake simply in order to feed themselves and their chicks. The programme showed the mums up to 50 miles out at sea hunting for krill, and then followed their gruelling journey back – the struggle simply to get out of the water onto the steep beach; the long journey and tough climb that they then had to undertake on foot through muddy, slippy volcanic ash having to try and try again to climb as they kept slipping back (like a game of snakes and ladders), and then eventually they make it back. But even then they’re faced with the task of finding their family in the midst of about 150,000 penguins. This happens because despite the unbelievable din created by that number of penguins, the parents hearing is so finely attuned that they recognise the individual cry of their own chick! Reunited with chick and dad the mum feeds them the krill, and then the dad sets off – his turn to undertake the food trip now. Absolutely incredible!
For all its imperfection and brokenness – the mess in many ways that humanity has made of it – the fact remains that we are privileged to live in an amazing world – intricately and wonderfully created by an amazing, all powerful God. And yet a God who knows us individually, cares for each one of us, and hears our cry (I love that picture of the penguins recognising the individual cry of their own chick among the noise of 150,000). A God who longs to meet us just where we are. A God who is indeed worthy of all our praise – and it was great that such a good number of us came together on Tuesday evening to do just that, to simply praise God for all that he is and give testimony to what he has done. Let’s not get so bogged down in life’s worries, difficulties and mess that we forget the amazing things of this world and forget that God is with us, hears our cries, and is worthy of our praise and thanks.
Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God; for he is gracious,
and a song of praise is fitting. (Psalm 147:1)
Amen!!
Simon Elliott
Remembrance Sunday, when, by the wearing of a simple emblem, a red poppy, we salute the memory of those who sacrificed, and still do, their health, their strength, even their lives, that we might live in a free country. I have been brought up to observe and respect this day. My dad, at the age of 24 experienced first hand Hitler’s attempt to destroy his own city of London when in September 1940, 348 German bombers and 617 fighters blasted London. This was the beginning of the Blitz, and for 57 consecutive days London was bombed night and day, and this was the reason he felt compelled to join the RAF to defend his country. He completed his training in Wales, became a gunner instructor for two years, after which he was commissioned and joined the Pathfinders squadron in RAF bomber command. They located and marked targets with flares and coloured markers, flew full circle and bombed the targets they had marked. 30 flights was the maximum after which you were sent to a base as an instructor. His darkest memory is of an incident in Munich when everything went wrong, the moon was bright and the Germans were waiting, 90 Lancasters were shot down with 7 crew in each, the loss of over 600 men in one night, each one a brother, son, husband or father, each one loved by God. After each trip they would go for debriefing and hold their breath as they found out which friends had not made it back. Death was part and parcel of life at that time, no time to grieve, no bodies, no funerals, just staying focused to do the job they had to do. His last trip was to Berchtesgaden, Hitler’s mountain retreat in the Alps, at the end of the war, not only was it his 30th and last flight but the last flight of bomber command. As he went in search of Hitler, Hitler was saving them the job and ending his own life in Berlin. Dad was 30 when he finished, younger than my son is now, but having seen so much destruction, pain and death at such a young age. Now at the age of 93 he still remembers every detail and even though he’s lived a long, healthy and happy life all those painful memories are always just under the surface.
So whilst we are indebted to so many who died to purchase civil freedom, we as Christians can celebrate a greater freedom. Christ died to purchase spiritual freedom, Jesus met death head-on and defeated it when he rose from the grave on the third day. We have the assurance that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, dwells in us and will give life to our mortal bodies for eternity.
We give thanks today for the lives of those who have fought and continue to fight for our freedom but let us also thank God for Jesus who was willing to pay the ultimate price for our salvation.
Shirley Wallin
The Wicker Basket
This story is of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains of Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning, Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading from his old worn out Bible. His grandson who wanted to be just like him tried to imitate him in any way he could.
One day the grandson asked “Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you but I don’t understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the bible do?” The grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said, “Take this old wicker coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of water.”
The boy did as he was told, even though all the water leaked out before he could get back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, “You will have to move faster next time” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the old wicker basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was ‘impossible to carry water in a basket’ and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, “I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You can do this. You’re just not trying hard enough” and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.
At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out. The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. He said. ‘See Papa, it’s useless!’ “So you think it is useless?” the old man said, “Look at the basket”. The boy looked at the basket realised that it looked different. Instead of a dirty old wicker coal basket, it was clean.
“Son, that’s what happens when you read the Bible. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, it will change you from the inside out.”
Moral of the wicker basket story: Take time to read a portion of God’s word each day; it will affect you for good even if you don’t retain a word.
[This story can be found on many websites and is of uncertain origin.]
Thought for today: God’s love is like the ocean, you can see its beginnings but not its end. I really like this story because I don’t remember things like I used to…but then I think God isn’t concerned about my brain anyway, he’s more concerned about my heart.
Today is Bible Sunday and we are reminded again about the importance of God’s Word. Many people regard the Bible as an important book that can teach them many things. The religious leaders who met Jesus studied the scriptures at every opportunity but he tells them they have missed the whole point, that is that they all speak of him (John 5). They refused to listen to him because they did not acknowledge who he was. They much preferred to debate endlessly about the minor matters which they thought they were the experts in.
In 2 Timothy 4.3, we read that people will not believe God’s Word because it does not fit in with their own ideas and so would prefer to listen to something they find more attractive. God’s message found throughout the Bible is clear. Jesus is the Messiah, God’s Son and we must believe in him and follow him. We are exhorted to teach the Scriptures at all times, not just when it suits us, because they will lead us to salvation through faith in Jesus (2 Timothy 3.15)
What is our attitude to the message of life? If we do not bring God’s Word to this world people will never come to experience eternal life. Are we prepared to speak about God’s love in Jesus or do we prefer to talk about less challenging subjects.
Alan Lewney
‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’
What joy it is to her parents when a baby smiles for the first time! And when a toddler throws himself from a wall into his father’s arms he has no doubt he will be caught and not fall and hurt himself. And when a child is skipping along the street enjoying the moment she is unaware of the joy on the faces of her parents and all the adults whose childhoods have been left behind but glimpse something they would dearly wish back. And what about the little girl who has fallen and scraped her knee? She looks around anxiously for someone to provide a little TLC or she will cry. There are so many opportunities for children to have their need for love and belonging met. They happen everyday and as child and parent come together in little acts of love the growing child becomes a member of a loving family and is able to take his and her place in society. And when God sees this happening he must be pleased with us all.
But life is not like that for every child! Every year 1.2 million children are taken from their parents and trafficked to other countries. Some are stolen, some are sold by their own parents and some are sent to a ‘better life’ by parents who have been duped. One child every second of every minute of every day is trafficked. And what happens to them? Some are made to work in ‘sweat shops’ but 80% are forced into the sex industry. Some of these children are in this country of ours. God is appalled. So, I am sure, are you and I. There are ways to bring an end to this awful business. Come tonight to the evening service and discover what you can do to bring the awful business to an end.
Richie Brown
There is a great Welsh hymn, 'Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah' that we sing sometimes at 9am that contains the following lines:
When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside:
Death of death and Hell's destruction
Land me safe on Canaan's side
It suggests that Jordan is 'death' and Canaan is 'heaven' whereas for the Israelites, who actually crossed the Jordan river and entered Canaan, the Promised Land, it wasn't the end but only the beginning.
That's why God told Joshua, 'to be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left that you may be successful wherever you go' (Joshua 1:7).
Life in Canaan was not going to be easy for God's people following God's word surrounded by people who didn't share their faith and culture. It can be very difficult today, living like this in a world which can seem so hostile to Christian faith personally and corporately.
That's why when we set our hearts and minds towards God, we also need to hear him say what he said to Joshua: As I was with Moses, so will I be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Joshua 1:5)
Pete Spiers
Growing up in the middle of a suburban Liverpool council estate, our annual singing of hymns such as ‘We plough the fields and scatter, the good seed on the land’ was something I never quite managed to connect with as a child! I didn’t really know what ploughing fields meant and I’d certainly never done it myself! The whole sort of agricultural language and imagery around harvest was somewhat lost on me. However the one point where I did make a connection with the themes that tend to be emphasised around harvest time was the need to say thank you to God that I did have food to eat - and linked to that, the whole question of why so many don’t. From quite a young age I remember the whole question of poverty and particularly why there were so many children all over this world who did not know where their next meal was coming from, really worried me. Psalm 24.1 starts: ‘The earth is the Lord's, and all that is in it.’ How often do we remember that everything is God’s and give him thanks for all his goodness to us, all that he gives us? This leads to two follow on questions:
Firstly, linking to what I’ve said above, is our thanks for what we have empty and meaningless if our attitude is first and foremost to make sure that we have enough to be comfortable, before we consider what we can share with others and how we can play a part in helping those who have far less? For me it’s not about necessarily giving up everything or giving away all that we have. It’s about our attitude to all that we have – recognising that all belongs first and foremost to God, and to the plight of other people. Then the actions that attitude leads to – whether that means prayer, financial giving, practical help, campaigning, raising awareness of particular issues, or whatever. The bringing of gifts today is a great gesture and way of sharing something of God’s love with members of our community; our support of numerous charities and mission partners as a church, and all that we do individually, is great. But whether corporately or individually is there more we could or should be doing?
Secondly, does the way we treat the earth reflect that it is God’s, and that he gave us dominion over it? Dominion to my mind does not give us the right to do as we please, to take what we want, when we want, to exploit, to misuse. Yet so often – both individually and corporately, is that not how we in some ways have treated God’s world? How can we better care for God’s creation that he has entrusted to us his people? Two challenges of harvest time for us all continually to consider our response to.
‘The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it...’
Simon Elliott
Back to Church Sunday
Today is back to church Sunday. So why is that such a big deal? I come back to church every Sunday! OK – that’s a joke. Or is it?
We often used to sing songs from a book called Youth Praise – it was a long time ago… One of them has the lines – ‘New every morning it’s new, The Love of god to me is wonderfully new.’ This was based on verses from Lamentations.
‘Because of the Lords great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness.’
Now that’s an interesting thought. God’s love for us is new and fresh each day. So whether we come back to church three times a week or whether we haven’t set foot in a church for ten years, God welcomes us every time. This is really what Back to Church Sunday is all about. It isn’t about the building, the pews or the services. It isn’t about listening to great worship songs or witty vibrant sermons (ahem!). It is about rediscovering the love and acceptance of Jesus which is just the same, whoever we are. Jesus told a story about a son who walked out on his father, who took his inheritance and wasted it. When the son returned the father did not smack him on the back of the head and send him away. He welcomed him back and had a party. Not because he had covered himself in glory – but because he was his son and he loved him.
In the book of Zephaniah we are told that God takes great delight in us. Whether you are returning after years or just a day, the newness of God’s love is the same. He is genuinely pleased to see you! So welcome back to church!
Steve Cornforth
‘Being where Jesus wants us to be and doing what Jesus wants us to do’ is this evening's talk, based on our last ‘Listening to God’ evening, but how do we really know the answer? Before God created us he knew exactly the role he wanted us to play on earth and planned how he wanted us to serve him. “God has created us for a life of good deeds which he has already prepared for us to do.” God made us wonderfully complex. Out of the billions of people who have ever lived he gave us our own unique DNA, fingerprints, eyes, voices. If every day of our life is recorded in his book before a single day has passed, then surely it makes sense that we have a role, a place of service which is also unique to us. There is nobody else on this earth like you and nobody else on this earth will ever be able to play the role God planned for you.
Rick Warren in his book ‘The Purpose Driven Life’ talks about
our SHAPE for ministry.
S - for Spiritual Gifts - as believers we all have spiritual gifts and we need to discover our own, no single gift is given to
everyone and no individual person receives them all.
H - for Heart, our desires, passions, interests, hopes, enthusiasm, the source of our motivation.
A - for Abilities or the natural talents we were born with. The Bible tells us that God has given each of us the ability to do
certain things well. So what are we good at, it could be anything, cooking, gardening, painting, music, teaching, writing, making money!
All can be used for God’s glory.
P - for personality and there’s plenty of variety, extraverts, introverts, organized or last minute, thinkers, feelers,
quiet, loud, the Bible too is full of different personalities. Lastly
E - for Experience, often painful experiences which God uses to mould us. God allows us to go through painful experiences so that
he can use us to identify with others in their pain.
In my last church I helped to lead a course for people with addictions. One of the other leaders was a reformed alcoholic and it used to amuse me that the alcoholics in our group could never pull the wool over her eyes because she had been there and done worse, but she also had a compassion and could connect in a way that nobody else could. Jesus was using her past experiences in her present ministry.
Cell Groups are an ideal place to experiment and discern what our SHAPE is; unless we try certain things how do we know what we are good at? Our shape was sovereignly determined by God for his purpose, so let’s celebrate it. We mustn’t compare our ministry with others and we mustn’t conform our ministry to the expectations of others, both distract us from serving God in the way he intended. Just think, we are going to serve him for eternity so we might as well get the practice in now!
Shirley Wallin
In these times of change, good relationships within The Body of Christ are key to its future and vital to its survival. I would like to encourage you to reflect on one or two points that I made last Sunday evening in church.
1. Our attitude towards each other depends on an understanding of how much God by his grace has done for us and how much he has forgiven us. Those who have been forgiven much, will love much. We need to understand that the most happy people are the merciful and the peacemakers. Jesus said that the world will know that we follow him when it sees how much we love each other.
2. Our actions will be key to repairing relationships. Jesus said ‘If anyone forces you to go one mile go the second mile’. Also in Matthew 7.12 we have “The Golden Rule”. ‘In everything do to others as you would have them do to you’. In other words think of others first and try to actively reach out.
3. Communication with each other and with God in prayer is vital.
4. Sacrificial leadership is essential to our health and well being. We need to be willing to take on leadership, be prepared spiritually for leadership, and finally we must be committed to following our leaders as they seek to be good shepherds of the flock.
Quite a challenge as we go through change. Shalom, peace in its true sense, is something very precious implying that people are not just getting on with each other but at ease with each other and joyful in each others presence. You can help bring this about!
Alan Lewney
Sin, once forgiven, is as far from God as west is from east. He no longer sees it. It is as though it never happened. Do we see it that way? Well! Not always. What about recurring temptations. We all have them. Gossiping (harmless fun?) or parking illegally (only for a minute though. It’s an emergency.) are among the lesser ones. I’ll leave you to flag up others.
My morning walks are often in the half light of pre-dawn. As I approach the lights on the path that leads to the promenade my shadow begins growing until it reaches giant proportions and scares the daylights out of the woman who is walking her dog. Its sudden appearance sends her heart into overdrive, and an early introduction to St Peter becomes a possibility. I apologise. She forgives me. I walk on. There are many other lights on my walk. I realise there is a pattern to my shadow’s length. If I stay in the light there is no shadow but as soon as I leave it, the shadow begins to develop worrying proportions only for it to disappear beneath the next light but it re-emerges once more as I walk away from the light again. Is this a metaphor for how to combat sin in our lives? Stay close to God and temptation is more likely to be avoided. There are good sensible ways to stay close to God such as reading the Bible, taking time to consider its messages and meeting with other believers to pray for an understanding that makes sense in our generation.
We know we are going to be tempted to gossip again and that if we ask we will be forgiven, but what about a special (but constant) prayer asking God to have the Holy Spirit confront us with the choice between right and wrong even quicker than usual. If we do this regularly we will stay under God’s light for longer. Try it and tell us all what happens.
Richie Brown
My father-in-law runs a zoo farm near Bristol called Noah's Ark. As well as having lots of interesting animals and lots of things for children to do, there is also an exhibition that challenges the idea that evolution alone explains how things are and suggesting that creation is also a rational explanation.
The British Humanist Association (BHA) have this week launched a fierce attack in the media demanding that he should be forced to close down the zoo farm and stop teaching such 'creationist' nonsense. They seem to think that it is dangerous and 'unscientific' to teach such things.
Throughout 2009, Charles Darwin, a hero to people like the BHA, is being celebrated through lectures, publications and debates. For some, he is a great liberator who freed us from superstition and ignorance. For others, he is a great Satan, whose evolution theory has led to disbelief in God and the resulting implications.
The truth is Darwin was a rather ordinary man who lived a rather conventional life and practised a rather conventional faith. His faith was severely tested, not by his scientific discoveries, but by watching Annie, his 10-year old daughter, dying a slow, painful and degrading death. In this respect, he was just like us, because few of us could endure such loss without severe doubts. Christian faith does not rest on human reason alone, which is silent in the face of suffering and pain, injustice and loss.
Christian faith rests on the truth that God became one of us, shared our pain and ultimately died for us on the cross. St Paul says: "we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles, but those whom God has called, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God". (1 Corinthians 1.23-24)
Pete Spiers
When I realized that I was writing a ‘Reflection’ for August, I thought I would write something relating to holidays, taking time out, resting. As I thought more about it, that lovely verse from Matthew came to mind:
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
I started to think, not of the holiday kind of rest or the Sabbath rest from physical labour but the Bible talks about the promise of ‘entering God’s rest’ and the blessing of that rest, not just after death but available to us in this life today. David speaks of this rest prophetically in Psalm 95 – the rest of salvation which Jesus offers to everyone who comes to him.
In the verse in Matthew Jesus calls out to those who are weary and weighed down with the burden of living in a broken world with inadequate resources. He offers rest from the weight of sin, from care and worry, from the load of daily anxiety and stress. He says that he is able to pull this load because he is strong and he invites us to come to him and learn from him. If we do this, we will experience rest for our souls – the wonderful blessing of his presence and power enabling us to pull this load. We experience this rest when we choose to depend on God and his promise of provision instead of instinctively relying on our own efforts. If we have the courage to hand over our worries to him we will receive from him all we need.
Surprisingly in this verse Jesus’s offer to the weary was not physical rest but work. A yoke was used to keep working animals in step with each other as they worked. Jesus’s words to the weary are not to stop work, but to work in step with him.
I wonder if there are any areas in our lives where we feel burdened or weary, maybe we are working out of step with what God is doing. What a shame it would be to have this kind of rest offered to us—and not take advantage of it!
Shirley Wallin
Our church buildings are a focal point for our local community, a constant reminder of God's presence, and a starting point for our worship, ministry and outreach to our community. They have been built throughout the ages as places in which to house the central sacrament of the Eucharist which is a response to Jesus’ command to ‘do this in remembrance of me’.
Here at St Luke’s, we have been blessed in many ways through the numerous buildings we have; places to meet with fellow Christians, members of the local community and others from further afield. During the last few months work has been carried out in the vestry areas to repair and restore, giving us an opportunity to reflect on our future and on how God would have us use his buildings. As from September, we will be moving out of church while the roof is being replaced, we will be looking at different ways of worship while meeting in other buildings; may this be a time of united fellowship as we praise God with one voice for all the blessings he has given us.
As our community changes in size, sense of purpose and attitudes, so our church buildings must also adapt and develop. As we start to think about re-ordering the church building, we ask God for wisdom remembering that any changes made are to be to the glory of God our Father. We reflect on the verses from Haggai chapter 2 verse 9: “The latter splendour of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts.”
Paul Beardwood
One of today’s readings brings us the words of a great prayer that Paul prayed for the church at Ephesus; which we can read in Ephesians 3.14-21. These words take me back to my Sunday school days and a song we used to sing – ‘Jesus’ love is very wonderful’ and its chorus ‘So high you can’t get over it, so low you can’t get under it, so wide you can’t get round it, Oh wonderful love.’ I always remember standing up on tiptoes and trying to reach as high as I possibly could, then falling down into a ball for the low bit, before stretching out sideways and whacking those next to me on the wide bit!!
A slightly cheesy song/tune maybe (!) – but taken from a very meaningful passage. Paul prayed that the Ephesian Christians would be strengthened with power through the Spirit of God in their inner being, that Christ would dwell in their hearts through faith, that they would be rooted and grounded in love, and that they would have power to comprehend how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. Love, he says, that surpasses knowledge – ‘So high you can’t get over it, so low you can’t get under it…’; love that’s beyond the bounds of our experience/knowledge. I’m often struck by an apparent contradiction here – how did Paul expect his readers to comprehend, to know the love of Christ if it’s something that ‘surpasses knowledge’? The amazing truth that Paul was emphasising to the Ephesians, and is every bit as true for us today, is that Christ’s love for us is beyond the bounds of our knowledge – too great for us to fully grasp; yet it is not unknowable, we can know without doubt that he does love us. We can know that he loves us – but the extent to which he loves us is mind blowing!!
So today I pray:
May the Father grant that we may be strengthened with power through the Spirit of God in our inner being, may Christ dwell in our hearts through faith, may we be rooted and grounded in love, and may we have power to comprehend how wide and long and high and deep is Christ’s love, and to know the love that surpasses knowledge; that we may be filled to the measure of the fullness of God – and bring glory to His Name! Amen.
May your minds be blown today by the amazingness of Christ’s love for you!
Simon Elliott
All of us have a responsibility to care for those around us, particularly those who depend on us in some way. The prophet Jeremiah described the rulers of Judah as Shepherds who were scattering the sheep instead of caring for them. In sharp contrast Jesus is described by Mark as looking with compassion on the people because they were like sheep without a Shepherd. When we look on people who need help without compassion there is something wrong and it will show in the way we deal with those around us.
The kindness of Jesus is demonstrated by his grace towards us (Ephesians 2.7).
So herein lies the secret of compassion: forgiveness. As people of God we are created in Jesus to do good works (Ephesians 2.10). We cannot do the things we were created by God to do, until we see those around us through the eyes of Jesus. Selfishness, pride and self-seeking have no place in God's Kingdom. Every time we do those acts of kindness enabled by forgiveness, we bring healing and hope and are part of God's mission of restoration. Let us this week say sorry again for our hardness of heart and ask God every day to help us see those around his with his love and compassion. Then we too will be good Shepherds.
Alan Lewney
Do you ever wonder what God thinks of you? Does he think of you at all? I mean it must be quite demanding running the universe. Is God really that bothered about us, with all our faults and weaknesses?
Well according to the bible he thinks quite a lot of us. The writer of Psalm 8 asked this very question – ‘What is mankind that you are mindful of him?’ He then gives himself the remarkable answer – ‘You made him a little lower than the angels and crowned him with glory and honour.’ When you think about it, it does make sense when we read in Genesis that we are made in the image of God. Yes – like it or not we are a big deal to God. In Ephesians 1, Paul writes about the riches of God’s grace – ‘…that he lavished on us…’ Do we get the picture? The loving father who can’t stop giving good things to his children.
That is how valuable you are to God. And that does not seem to be influenced at all by what we do or who we are. We live in an age where people are desperate for significance. Thousands will queue for hours for a chance to show Britain that they have talent. We watch reality TV. We read celeb magazines. We want to be noticed. But we cannot be more highly valued than we are.
So is everyone else.
We have such a sense dignity when the penny drops – we are truly significant to God himself. That makes us feel good about ourselves. But let us also see the image of God in others. In those we dislike, those that we disapprove of, those who have been rejected. As God has blessed us – ‘with every spiritual blessing in Christ,’ so let us be a blessing to somebody this week.
Steve Cornforth
Healing and salvation are two ways of describing the work of Jesus Christ. Within the work of Christ’s salvation, healing holds a significant place, because by it he both demonstrated the love of God and proclaimed that the Kingdom had come. Jesus never intended the Good News to be proclaimed by word alone, but by the mighty works of God.
Christ’s command was to heal the sick and cast out demons as well as to preach the Kingdom of God. The disciples continued to do this after his ascension and throughout every generation people have witnessed God’s healing power through the work of the Holy Spirit. His command to us is the same, he promises to fill us with the power of the Holy Spirit to heal and he equips us with his gifts of love, compassion, authority and power.
Those who met Jesus during his earthly ministry were never the same again, and neither are we. He ministers to the whole person, not only healing physical illnesses but bringing peace and stability of mind to those who are struggling mentally or emotionally and setting us free to be the people he created us to be, living the life in all its fullness that he intended us to live. He is the only one who can meet our deepest needs; he gives us security and significance.
We are delighted to welcome Roy Lawrence to be with us today and to share his experiences and the things that God has taught him through the many years that he has been involved in the healing ministry.
Every week we pray ‘your Kingdom come’ in the Lord’s prayer. The Kingdom of God comes when the Holy Spirit comes, and when the Holy Spirit comes we should expect to see healing and deliverance. Jesus never taught about healing but he did teach about the kingdom; maybe that was because he was leaving it to the Holy Spirit to give the necessary guidance each time we pray with someone. Why not come along this afternoon to hear Roy’s teaching and/or to the healing service this evening to witness God’s healing power and to receive what he has for you.
Shirley Wallin
Friday, 05-Feb-2010 16:17:21 GMT
So what do you think of our MPs' expenses? I bet you've been asked that question lots of times over the past few weeks. This week a new Speaker for the House of Commons was elected after Michael Martin, the previous Speaker, was forced from office, the first time this has happened for 300 years.
One of the most common responses from defensive MPs was that their claims were approved by the Fees Office with the implication that it was alright. However, it is clear that the system was wrong and it needs to be changed, and there are indications that this is what will happen. This is a very good thing. Our MPs should be given expenses and a salary so that they can perform their necessary and important duties for which they have been elected by us. The problem is the selfishness and greed of those who would take advantage of the system to make money for themselves and not to see it for what it is.
Jesus spoke about the Pharisees as being people who devoted themselves to a system that made them clean on the outside whilst inside they were left unchanged and prone to selfishness and greed.
When Jesus was confronted by the Pharisees with a woman who had been caught in adultery, he 'let those who are without sin cast the first stone'. He warns us that none of us are perfect and it is easier to reveal the sin of others whilst keeping our own sin hidden.
If the scandal of our MPs' expenses reminds us that the 'heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart' and that we should pay very close attention to our own hearts and seek the transformation of them, that only Jesus Christ can bring through his death on the cross, then it will not have been in vain.
Pete Spiers
And God said that we should rest on the seventh day.
And I say we should every day.
21st century life is in the fast lane. Everything needs doing now, not tomorrow and anyway why wasn’t it on my desk yesterday? Most people are being pressed to work longer hours, work more efficiently and dread words like ‘targets’ are used to challenge us to greater efforts if we don’t want to see a P45. And it really is like this for some people.
What should a Christian response be to pressure? We accept we need to do our best for our employers but the Lord wants us to do our best in all facets of our life: with our family, church, and neighbours, even our hobbies. It is not just about the job. All life is important to God. Our pressured lives need regular oases of peace. A quiet time for prayer and reflection is good but what about those among us who struggle finding such times. Early mornings are good for this but we are not all ‘morning people.’ We need more than one quiet time anyway. The tea break had the effect of slowing us down but has long gone for many. We need to re-introduce it in a different way. I recommend we take five minutes each hour to switch from work to reflection. Reflect on what you are doing, on your colleagues who need encouragement and help, on the view outside the window. God rewards such times. He will re-charge our batteries. He might bring to mind a Bible passage that speaks to our particular situation. All this he can do if you and I make the effort to develop routines that allow us to reflect on what we are doing on a regular basis throughout the day. I say let’s find time every day to rest, not just on Sunday.
Richie Brown
Environment Sunday
Relationships are fundamental to our lives; a source of great joy and fulfilment yet often the cause of much anguish and heartache. Christianity is about relationships: the Trinity is three persons in relationship with each other. In the Bible we read of God’s ‘covenantal’ relationship with his people. For us living in the 21st century what is our most important relationship is that which we have with God; a living relationship with a living God. What also of our relationship with his creation – how well do we fare here? Environment Sunday is usually the Sunday nearest to World Environment Day on 5 June (as declared by the United Nations and whose theme this year is climate change). This is an opportunity to celebrate God’s creation through, for example outdoor events; wildlife is easiest to see and enjoy at this time of year and wildlife trusts promote ‘wildlife week’ during June. What does this have to do with us however? Why should Christians be concerned about environmental issues? What can we learn from scripture? The creation story in the book of Genesis underlines the intimate relationship between us, creation and the Creator; thus we are required as a matter of faith to be concerned with the environment and take responsibility for the earth. However Biblical teachings are subject to diverse interpretations, dominionship and stewardship being two. Has the dominion interpretation led to overuse of our natural resources and over-consumption leading to pollution and the situation which we now face? Have we taken this as a licence for the extraction and manipulation of the earth’s resources for the service of human ‘needs’? Perhaps we need to re-evaluate this and ‘reverently consume’ with respect for creation as a gift. What of stewardship; if we are stewards we are to care for the environment and not further our own interests at the expense of creation, we are to ‘keep’ the ground, guarding and protecting it too. As Christians called into a relationship with God, honouring him as creator we must make our goal environmental stewardship as part of our service to each other; our local community and our neighbours; Micah 6.8 reminds us that we are to ‘act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God’
Gillian Beardwood
Trinity
A Pharisee named Nicodemus came to Jesus by night wanting to talk with him. Although Nicodemus was an intelligent man and a leader of the Jews, he didn’t want to be seen. Whilst they were talking Jesus said something very puzzling to Nicodemus: “No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” He just didn’t understand how someone could be born again. For many weeks now many of us have been following our own Springwatch here at St Luke’s. The webcam has given us many insightful moments into the life of a blue tit. Watching the babies go from nine eggs to three chicks who have now flown the nest and all the cleaning and feeding of worms and caterpillars in between.
When we think of caterpillars they’re not particularly beautiful. They start out as little wrinkled green fuzzy creatures. They spend their days eating more and more food until one day they spin into cocoons. The caterpillar hangs around for several weeks and then when it breaks out of its cocoon it has turned into a beautiful butterfly, a new creation.
This is a good illustration of what Jesus meant when he said we had to be "born again." The Bible says, "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
God doesn’t leave it at that. When we become a Christian, we have also invited the Holy Spirit to come and live in us and it’s amazing the difference he makes. The great thing is that he’s available to everyone, whoever they are and whatever they’ve done. They just need to ask.
Barbara Chambers
It seems very appropriate for me of all people to be writing a reflection about Pentecost, a day often described as the ‘birthday’ of the Christian Church, as I sit here (somewhat impatiently it has to be said!) awaiting the ‘birth-day’ of our baby! But what a birthday that first Pentecost was for the Church – take a few minutes to have a careful read through Acts chapter 2, it’s amazing stuff! The word Pentecost literally means ‘the 50th day’ and so today has its name because it falls 50 days after Easter, 10 days after Ascension Day. Prior to his ascension Jesus had told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem as God had promised that they would be baptised in the Holy Spirit. Through the Spirit they would receive power and become witnesses to all that Jesus had done, witnesses to the amazing news of the gospel and the hope it brings for all. And it happened with a bang didn’t it – a sound like the rush of a violent wind filling the house and what appeared like tongues of fire resting on each of the disciples! They were filled with the Spirit and began to speak in all kinds of different languages. The crowds that gathered because of the noise were astonished as they each heard these Galileans speaking in their own individual languages. Peter then addressed the whole crowd in detail, and thousands accepted his message and became baptised believers that day. An incredible ‘birthday’!
So much that could be said, but one of the things about this first Pentecost that really strikes me is that each person heard the gospel message in their own native language. It made it personal and relevant to each person there that day – they were able to hear and understand for themselves. As we continue that God-given task, to witness to the good news of Christ in our culture today I believe there’s a constant challenge to think about how we enable people to hear the good news in their own ‘language’. We might speak the same physical language, but how in touch are we as the church with what our community, the people around us, understand and can relate to? The things that interest them and catch their attention, the issues that affect them. In church itself, is our ‘language’ - the things we say and do - understandable and meaningful? It’s not about watering down what we believe or stand for in any way to make it fit in with the latest fads, not about change for the sake of change. But it is about asking and allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us to ‘speak’ the everlasting, unchanging good news of Jesus Christ relevantly in different and appropriate ways that people might truly hear, understand and receive it for themselves. Let’s make this our prayer on this Pentecost Sunday.
Simon Elliott
When we belong to an organisation, group, family, church we usually feel more included and there are benefits to belonging.
John is very clear that we either belong to Jesus or we do not. His writings are full of stark contrasts. We live in the light or walk in darkness. We follow truth or we follow lies. In John 5.12 he brings us to the point where we have to choose life or death, the ultimate choice. He writes: “whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” We either belong to God or we do not and what makes the difference is our belief in God and in his Son Jesus.
When we belong to Jesus we belong to God and we are assured of his presence and joy in our lives. Numerous questions spring to mind. What happens if I doubt? What about those who have never heard? How do we know if people are genuine when they say they believe? To John it is simple if we really believe it will show in the way we follow the commandment of Jesus to obey his command to love one another. Of course it is not our judgement of people that matters but God’s. He knows each of us completely. If we believe, he knows it. His judgement is always fair, always correct and completely unbiased. If we truly believe we have his promise that he will never let us go because he will keep us safe eternally. I cannot think of anywhere else I can know that kind of security and certainty!
Alan Lewney
The results of the Gift Day have left us all speechless! On Sunday it was £90,608 and as the week has gone on, people have still been sending in their pledge forms so that the amount now stands at just over £100,000! A big thank you to everyone who has pledged whether it was £5 or £5000 (if you haven't pledged yet there is still time!). This means that we will be able to put a new roof on the church this year.
Whilst the raising of this sum of money has been a fantastic achievement, there are some other 'results'. We have learnt the importance of prayer not only by our 'Listening to God' evenings but also by beginning last weekend in 24 hours of prayer - 'if you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you. This is for my Father's glory …' (John 15.7-8a). It was on Friday morning that I received a cheque in the post for £10,000 for our Gift Day which was a great start!
We have learnt the importance of welcoming the community by our Fun Day events and showing that we have 'Crosby in our heart'. We have experienced the power of God in our joint service last Sunday when so many people from our three congregations worshipped, shared and then ate together - 'how good and pleasant it is when people live together in unity' (Psalm 133.1).
So we need to give thanks to God for all that he has given us. We will share our blessings with others by giving away 10% of what we spend on the vestry and the roof - 'seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be given to you as well' (Matthew 6:33). We need to exercise our faith in every aspect of our church life - 'The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it (1 Thessalonians 5.24).
'Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work with us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.' (Ephesians 3.20-21)
Pete Spiers
I hope to be celebrating later this month. I’m one of Everton’s armchair supporters but I wish I was one of the team. So much better don’t you think? But I’m too old now. Oh dear!
Years ago I ran in a cross-country race with my club. The team won. EVERYONE in the club celebrated: those who were in the first six to score did. But so did everyone else who lined up at the start. And it didn’t end there. Runners who had been injured were there supporting us. They celebrated. The coaches and the officials who came to the race were also caught up in the celebration. EVERYONE celebrated. We were all valued members of the club.
Today we are celebrating but what does today mean to you and me? I suspect the answer is dependent on how much investment we have in the work of Jesus and his winning team.
There were reasons why EVERYONE was caught up in the celebrations following our victory in the race. We all loved to run and were prepared to give much of our time and energy for each other and the good of the team. You see the race wasn’t just won on that day. Success was built on a shared training programme in which all were equally important. We helped each other and even those who didn’t manage to climb onto the winner’s rostrum improved and were able to achieve greater fitness levels and faster times by being able to share each other’s burdens.
St Luke’s isn’t an athletics club. It’s more important. But like the running club it needs all its members to share its vision for the future to succeed. We want our church to be relevant to Crosby. In these times it needs commitment of time and finance. The church is asking us to consider the level of our financial commitment towards the future of the church but I want to ask you to consider joining a cell group as well. I’m in one and this is despite being busy and ‘heavy laden’. The support of friends helps me deal with my busy life. But I’m also helped to focus on Jesus who helps me to understand how important being part of a team is to spiritual growth.
Don’t be an armchair supporter of Everton like me. Instead get on the pitch and join Jesus’ winning team.
Richie Brown
Eric Liddell was known as the 'flying Scotsman' because of his pace. He was on the British Olympics team in Paris in 1936. He was favourite to win the gold medal in the 100 yards. However he discovered that his heat was on a Sunday and his Christian conscience formed in the Church of Scotland forbade him to run on a Sunday. So he gave up the chance of winning gold in the 100 yards and entered the 440 yard race … and won gold in that instead! Asked by journalists afterwards how he did it, he opened his hand. On a crumpled piece of paper in it were the words: "Those who honour Me, I will honour." Another runner, impressed with Liddell's principles, had handed it to him just before the race.
These words are taken from 1 Samuel 2.30 and were also shared at our Listening to God evening in October of last year. I have been looking back at what people have shared at both our Listening to God evenings and there is much for us to be encouraged by. As we prepare for our Gift Day, let us take this verse to heart and make its aim to honour God in all that we do as Eric Liddell did. Let that be our desire as we pray (and fast) for 24 hours on 8 May, as we return our pledges and put on our Fun Day for the people of Crosby on 9 May and as we come together as a church in worship and over food on 10 May. To God be the glory!
Pete Spiers
Did you know that there is such a thing as Domino Day and, no, it’s not anything to do with the pizza. Each year people get together all over the world to set up and topple dominoes. The record is over 4 million, and took over 2 hours to set up. I certainly wouldn’t have the patience to set them up but I like to see the first domino pushed and then to watch the dominoes topple.
In our gospel reading from Luke 24.13-49 today, when Jesus appeared to his disciples after the resurrection, they were afraid and didn’t believe it was him, until he showed them his scars and asked for, and was given, something to eat. When they realized it was him, he was then able to teach and tell them that what had been written about him in Scripture was true, that he had to suffer and die and rise again on the third day. He then told them to “go tell everyone the news that the kingdom of God has come.”
At the time I’m sure the eleven disciples wanted to know how this was to happen. That’s where the illustration of the dominoes comes in. It starts with one. One person tells another and another and another until everybody spreads the word that Jesus died for our sins on a cross, rose from the dead and that he is LORD.
We were reminded last Tuesday (at the APCM) that as Christians we are all in this together. Jesus wants us to tell others how he has changed our lives through his death and resurrection. There are no “us” and “them” in a church, we are not alone, we have each other and we are all called to do our part.
“One shall tell another and they shall tell their friends”.
ALLELUIA, HE IS RISEN. HE IS RISEN INDEED, ALLELUIA.
Barbara Chambers
Trust, faith, confidence. These three things all seem to go together. Every time I step on an aircraft these words seem to cross my mind. I trust the plane and I have faith that this huge piece of complex machinery measuring hundreds of tons will leave the ground. My son spent 11 years flying for BA and I never really worried about him flying because I had confidence in the engineering.
After Jesus rose from the dead the disciples also displayed trust, faith and confidence. They gave up their possessions because they knew God would provide. They were willing to die because they knew it was not the end and they trusted each other because they knew they were not there to glorify themselves. A new found freedom and way of living that is still around today demonstrated by Christians throughout the world, especially in places of great need.
Not everyone finds it easy to believe but even natural sceptics like Thomas can come to faith because we have a saviour who not only revealed himself then but who, by his Holy Spirit is with us today.
Service is not sacrifice when its rewards are guaranteed by the bank of heaven.
Alan Lewney
Watching the scene at Golgotha the followers of Jesus must have thought, does it really end here? It had been a long journey from the shores of Galilee, the boats and the fish. A wonderful exciting journey through the villages, with healings and miracles, sitting in the sun with Jesus listening to his amazing teaching. Could it really end here? With shouts and cries, bleeding hands and swearing soldiers? Creation is often spoken of verbally in the bible, trees clapping, rocks crying out; this final hour of darkness is as if even creation could not bear the sight of the Creator’s Son being put to death, even the sun hid its face.
Everything about their behaviour as they shared the emotion and distress of what they had witnessed, showed that they had no expectation that Jesus would rise from the dead, yes maybe on the last day but not there and then. They were bereaved and bereft as, out of love and devotion, the women went to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. And then … with the words “He is not here, but has risen” history is changed for ever as the resurrection story begins. The life of Jesus had not come to an end in tragedy, defeat and death, but in triumph and victory and life! What he had said would happen on the third day had happened; he was alive and they had met him! The disciples had felt every emotion possible during the last couple of days, despair, disappointment, confusion, grief but now utter incredulous delight.
So now armed with faith in the risen Christ, and shortly to be empowered by the Holy Spirit, they turned the world upside down. Two thousand years later when we meet with the risen Christ we are never the same again and we begin our own journey of faith and witness, and because of what Jesus has done for us our journey has no end, only eternal life.
Shirley Wallin
This week has marked Barack Obama's first G20 summit and first visit to the UK as US President. In many ways he is still in his honeymoon period as President, riding high on the wave of hope and optimism that swept him into the White House. I'm sure that in his own mind the grim reality of the task he's got as President and the difficulties it's going to bring have well and truly set in. Rightly or wrongly, Obama is carrying the hopes and expectations of people all over the world. Is he going to live up to and meet all those hopes and expectations? Of course not! Only time will tell if he will be remembered as a successful President; but as he does his job day by day he'll have to make tough decisions and choices, the outcomes of which will please some people while leaving others feeling angry or let down. He can't please everyone all the time - no-one can! But at this time people are looking at him with real hope and expectation, and I'm praying that he will be remembered as someone who makes a real difference for the good in this world.
However this does make me question where (or in whom) people place their hopes and expectations, and whether they are sometimes unrealistic or misguided? Sometimes we can hope for too much, sometimes for too little, sometimes for things that actually will not do the good or prove to be the solution we hope for. Today is Palm Sunday, a day when we particularly remember someone else carrying the hopes and expectations of many people. Jesus riding on a donkey into Jerusalem receiving the praise and adulation of the crowds, because of what they expected him to do for them - to be their new great King who would free them from the tyranny of Roman occupation. That expectation was misguided, and was going to lead to many of these people feeling angry, and baying for his blood just five days later. Jesus was the right person for people to place their hope in, but many people that day were misguided in their hope. The hope that he came to bring was far greater than freedom from Roman rule. He came to bring good news for the poor, release for the captives - forgiveness from sin, relationship with our creator God, eternal life. Do we, anymore than the crowds on that first Palm Sunday, truly grasp the hope that only Jesus can bring us, and do we really live out our lives in a way that shows that hope we have? That's a challenge to each one of us! As we move into this Holy Week, pray that the reality of what Jesus went through in that first Holy Week 2000 years ago will strike you afresh - he did it for you, he did it for me, he did it for everyone, to give us an amazing, eternal hope, that surpasses any earthly hope and needs to sustain us through both the good and bad of our daily lives.
Simon Elliott
‘…what if Jesus meant something else…?’
Rob Bell
Holy Communion, Last Supper, Eucharist, Breaking of Bread, Fellowship Meal – so many words to describe one of the most central features of Christian worship. On this day, across the world in many different cultures people will take bread and wine. Some, like us, will come forward and receive this. Some will pass around a loaf of bread and glass of wine. Some will simply be at home sharing the bread and wine. But it is something which binds together Christians of all ages, styles and cultures.
Why is it so important? Because Jesus, in the last hours before he died, shared a meal with his disciples. He broke bread and poured wine saying – ‘…do this in remembrance of me.’ So we take communion to remind ourselves that Jesus gave himself for us. That he sacrificed everything for our sake. So in those moments when we may doubt that we are good enough for God we know that he loved us so much that gave his life. What greater demonstration of love? Nothing we do or fail to do could ever make him love us more or less. And whenever we take communion we are reminded of this. This is why taking the bread and wine is such an important ritual. But maybe there is something else as well. What if it is more than an important ritual? Writer Rob Bell in his recent book Jesus Wants to Save Christians says – ‘What if the ‘do this’ he primarily meant wasn’t the ritual he was leading his disciples through at that moment. What if the ‘do this’ was his whole way of life?’
Jesus said ‘this is my body given for you … do this’. The ‘do this’ not only refers to the breaking of bread, but also the ‘giving’ of his body. So we remember him by doing what he did, by breaking bread together, and by giving ourselves for others. In this way communion goes beyond a weekly ritual to become something which can change the world. In that world of hunger, injustice, AIDS, modern slavery, child soldiers, unemployment, homelessness – we remember that Jesus gave himself for us. As we remember what he did we are also challenged to give ourselves for their sake. As we remind ourselves of his love, we demonstrate that love to others – whether we feel they deserve it or not.
So as we take communion let’s thank Jesus for what he has given us. But let’s take that with us into our homes, communities, workplaces and out into the world.
Steve Cornforth
Give Me The Roses Now. Don’t Wait!
Mary, Hannah and the mother of Moses, whose name we aren’t even told, are three women who could tell us what loss and separation feel like. Read the passages. Imagine the feelings coursing through the women as the reality of their lives seeps in and their sons are taken from them. How much time did their children have to share time and experiences with their mothers? So much we can know by reading the stories in the Bible but much is unsaid and we have to imagine the rest.
For most of us such depth of loss is rare but it happens and a glance at the news should induce within us all a sense of gratitude and grace at our continuing relationship with loved ones. But how does it happen that we take each other for granted. Once the cares of this world or our own particular needs raise their demands the temptation to concentrate on the task in hand becomes central and we can forget or put out of mind the telephone call and a visit home that is long overdue. We will do it tomorrow. Mum will understand. She knows how busy I am. I’ll send her a bunch of flowers on ‘Mother’s Day’. Better still I might even visit. She’ll love that. Of course none of us would be quite as clinical as that would we?
The church calls today ‘Mothering Sunday’. I suppose it is right but if ‘Mother’s Day’ can energise us into appreciating our mothers more I think that would be good as well.
So! Those of you who still can, thank your mothers for what they have done for you, remember flowers fade but ‘I love you.’ and acts of continual thoughtfulness and kindness last much longer. Remember too, those who don’t have children. God loves them just as much. They need more than flowers as well.
Richie Brown
During Lent I have been reading passages from one of my favourite books in the Bible, Jeremiah, as I say my morning prayer. This week the clergy of Sefton deanery spent 24 hours away in the Lake District looking at how we can all work better together in the mission of God.
The general feeling was that we were excited and positive about the opportunities and that through talking and listening to each other, we had drawn closer to each other and to God.
At our final communion service, we read the following words: Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. (Jeremiah 17.7-8). When we look at a tree and marvel at its height or its size or its beauty, we often don't think about its roots going far down into the ground and spreading out in many different directions. It's the roots below ground that dictate the fruitfulness above ground even in times of difficulty.
The Week of Continuous Prayer gives us the opportunity to strengthen our roots, to express our trust in God. Our prayer life is like the roots of Jeremiah's tree and has a direct effect on our Christian witness, individually and corporately. Many Christians find prayer a struggle, I certainly do!
I want to challenge you to come to at least one of our prayer events (see news sheet for times) to strengthen your roots. As we launch the appeal for our Gift Day, it's vital that we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith who used the image of another plant: 'I am the vine. You are the branches. If anyone remains in me and I in him, they will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing.' (John 15.5)
Pete Spiers
Mark 8:31-37
Our Gospel reading today says that “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from you selfish ways take up your cross and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel, you will save it. After all, what good is it if you gain the whole world, but lose your own soul?”
As I’m writing this I am reminded of a song by Abba a line of which goes “the winner takes it all, the losers have to fall”. And unfortunately that’s how some people see life. Some people want faster cars, more money, bigger houses or a celebrity lifestyle. The more they get the more they want regardless of how this may affect others. Often what people fail to remember is that you can’t take it with you.
Because of who Jesus was, and the power that he had he could have taken the easy way of building himself a kingdom, but he didn’t because that was not part of God’s plan for the world. Jesus came as our example so that sins could be repented and forgiven and by his example that we would have new life and life in all its fullness.
Some people think that Christians are losers, and being a follower of Jesus is not easy, but he reminds us that if we want to be real winners we must be willing to give up everything and follow him, no matter what the cost because our very soul’s existence is at stake. As we go through Lent let’s think about following Jesus and his example to us and look forward to Easter and that glorious Resurrection.
Barbara Chambers
We have been looking at Haggai the prophet and learning some lessons about listening to God and following him. At the time the Jewish exiles who had returned appeared to be going through hard times. It is possible that with the arrival of a new king of Persia that the help that Cyrus, his predecessor, had supplied had dried up and along with it the people's enthusiasm for the work of restoring God’s house.
It is a common misconception that restoration work on church roofs etc is normally paid for from some central church fund or by lottery money. Our restoration work will have to be paid for by the people, not some central fund. The Lord’s message today is still the same as it was in Haggai’s day. “I am with you says the Lord.” If we feel it is not our responsibility to do our part then we may miss out on seeing God at work and become weaker in the process.
When we put God first things change. He draws alongside us, strengthens us and provides for us. It may be hard to listen to God’s voice but the rewards are great. In Hebrew’s 12.7 we read ‘enjoy hardship as discipline’. and in 12.10 we read ‘God disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.’ Hebrews 12.12 says ‘Therefore, Strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.’ If we are feeling a little weary then perhaps now is the time to renew our commitment and redouble our efforts in God’s service knowing that God has promised to be with us when we listen to his voice.
Alan Lewney
Go bananas!
This isn’t an instruction from me telling you to go wild in some way, though feel free! Tomorrow (23 February) marks the start of the 2009 ‘Fairtrade Fortnight’, and ‘go bananas’ is the name given to an initiative that is going to be part of this. It actually originates from something that happened during last year’s fairtrade fortnight here in Liverpool, when a Christian Aid group had around 40 people get together at a meeting point where they collected fairtrade bananas. Then standing together in a prominent city centre spot, they arranged for their mobile phones to ring at the same moment and started speaking into their bananas as if they were phones, before handing the bananas out to surprised onlookers!! Each banana had a message about fairtrade tied to it. The plan this year is to create a new world record for the number of people eating fairtrade bananas at the same time, over a 24 hour period – starting midday on Friday 6 March. The reason for this is to send a clear message to supermarkets and the government that more fairtrade is wanted.
But why bananas? And why fairtrade? Bananas are the most popular fruit in the world – over £10 billion a year spent on them globally, but while demand for them is soaring the prices paid to producers for them has plummeted meaning that the majority of banana plantation workers do not earn enough to live and support their families, many earning less than £1 per day. Fairtrade is seeking to make a real difference to the lives of these people and many, many others involved in all kinds of different trades all over the world. It’s estimated that around 2 billion people, about a third of the earth’s population, still survive on less than £1 a day and are partly kept in such poverty by unfair trade rules.
I believe in a God of justice who looks at the injustice, the greed, the lack of concern for the other that is so rife throughout this world and weeps. Throughout the Bible we can read of God’s longing for justice and his heart for the poor, especially of course in the teaching and actions of Jesus throughout the gospels. But going back to the Old Testament we find the author of the Proverbs writing these words: ‘Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy’ (Proverbs 31.8-9). So, I hope that many will consider signing up to ‘go bananas’ and over this fairtrade fortnight that we will really challenge ourselves as to how we can make more of an effort to support and defend the rights of those who have so little both practically through how we shop and so on, as well as through prayer.
For more info on how to sign up to ‘go bananas’ and about fairtrade fortnight generally please log on to: http://www.fairtrade.org.uk.
Simon Elliott
The Gospel reading for this week reminds us that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” Jesus was there at the beginning before anything came into existence. Verse 3 tells us that “all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
I am not particularly fond of planes and therefore am not a great flier. But the one thing that has always left me speechless is the amazing view of our planet from space. I recently came across an old email sent to me by a friend entitled “Blue Beauty”, which is a slide sequence showing our planet in the middle of the universe at night; of nightfall over Brazil and the USA; the continental platforms from the British Isles to Canada and Iceland and many more views of Europe, Africa and Australia.
Jesus was there at the dawn of creation and yet in verse 10 it says that “the world did not recognize him” and in verse 11 “and his own people did not accept him”. Some people did not believe that he was the Son of God and chose to reject him. Just as there are many today who choose to reject him. But in Verse 12, “Yet to all who received him, who believed in his name he gave power to become children of God …”
Each of us can choose to follow Jesus and receive him and when we do we have all the rights and privileges of being his child; we have his love, protection and provision for our lives. Jesus came to show us the way to God and he is our example of how we should live our lives.
Barbara Chambers
[Blue Beauty is online in several places, including here and here.]
On Education Sunday it is appropriate to ask two questions. What can a church do to support those who work in schools, colleges and universities? And, conversely, what can those who work in schools, colleges and universities do to make sure they are adequately supported by their own church? I believe Education Sunday may provide part, though by no means all, of the answer to these two questions.
For well over a century Education Sunday, as it has become known, has been an annual day of prayer and celebration for everyone involved in education in England and Wales. Education Sunday provides the perfect opportunity for Christian leaders, churches and congregations to demonstrate their commitment to learning and teaching, and, more specifically, to those who learn and teach.
But teachers don't just need prayer to help them manage their time more wisely and cope with their often excessive workload. They need to be covered with the full armour of God if they are to be physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually protected in their day-to-day work. Many teachers would welcome powerful prayer support which sought to address the nitty-gritty of life at the ‘chalkface'. For example: dealing with relentlessly unruly pupils; coping with sometimes offensive and ill-disciplined parents; and remaining clear-headed and professional whilst trying to be an effective Christian witness.
Here at St Luke’s we are committed to offering prayerful help and support to Christian teachers and lecturers, classroom assistants and support staff, volunteers and school governors. So, if you know someone who works in education do offer them a listening ear and your prayerful support and encouragement—they certainly need it!
Eric Linford
I am writing these reflections on the day after the inauguration of Barack Obama. Phrases in his speech still fresh in my mind – ‘we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord’; ‘your people will judge you on what you can build not what you destroy’; ‘we are willing to extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist’.
Over the past few months God has been continually challenging me to see the bigger picture and his perspective on things. Do you find that you are always holding parallel or opposite things in your mind at the same time because they are both right? Grace—undeserved love, but also justice and fairness, living within the constraints of our temporary daily lives but also designed for eternity, holding in our minds something which is beyond our understanding. We are called to live our lives in the light of the cross recognizing the pain in the world, to stand with others in their suffering, feeling their pain and bringing relief in the name of Jesus. But also called to live in the light of the resurrection, to focus on life in the power of the Spirit, giving us confidence, expecting to see God at work in and through us bringing life and hope to others. We have to hold together these two aspects, a call to suffer and an assurance of victory. Most of us tend to veer towards one or the other, ending up with either an insensitive triumphalism or a constant brokenness.
Barack Obama reminds us that there are many issues that trouble us in our world today, a world of personal and national tragedy, of conflict and greed, of global warming and climate change, of unabated consumption and limited resources. Many people fear what the future might hold.
Whilst we can be optimistic and hopeful at this momentous time in history, as Christians we have a different perspective, a bigger picture. The world is not out of control nor is life meaningless. It is all in the control of a loving Creator, and history is headed towards the goal that he has planned. It might not seem like that because of human selfishness and rebellion but God has acted to put it right and the authority that he displays throughout his life bears witness to that. The healings are a mark of a new world in which there will be no more pain, the defeat of demons, as in our readings today, a demonstration of the final overthrow of evil that will come in all its fullness, his nature miracles a foretaste of a new heaven and a new earth in which all will be restored as God intended it to be.
Shirley Wallin
Paul was feared. He was responsible for persecuting the church. He stood by as Stephen was stoned to death: not, I think, a neighbour of choice. If you were Ananias how would you have responded when he was told to go and heal Paul? Ananias needed convincing. Unlike us Ananias didn’t have hindsight. His decision to act took much faith because Paul was the one man in Damascus capable of wreaking havoc to everyone Ananias held dear.
There are many people in this world who persecute their own people. Have we the faith to believe Mugabe is capable of a change of heart? Can our prayers, added to those of the worldwide community, make a difference? They can!
But what about nearer to home! We may not know any dictators but we all know people whose attitudes wouldn’t be shared by Jesus: the man who tells racist jokes or the woman who wouldn’t give the Big Issue seller the time of day because he’s a ‘scrounger’.
When Paul accepted Jesus as his Lord and teacher it took time for him to understand the implications. Paul had to develop new attitudes and opinions and learn how to express them so others could understand.
Paul will have been confronted by his former associates to give explanations for his new attitudes and we know how the church developed as a result. In our own small way we can extend the message of the gospels in our own streets. We need to be clearer in our own minds why racist jokes and attitudes like the woman's mentioned above are wrong but when we do we should confront the man who tells racist jokes and we should challenge the woman who has such a low opinion of the Big Issue seller. When we do we know Jesus is right there with us and if that isn’t inspiring you tell me what is.
Richie Brown
January
January takes its name from the Roman ‘god of doors’ – the gatekeeper who had two faces, one looking forward and one looking back. Perhaps this god was one that was worshipped at the time of Jesus by the occupying forces. So far ancient Roman gods haven’t appeared on the BBC2 programme ‘Around the world in eighty faiths’ hosted by the Anglican vicar Peter Owen-Jones but there are 60 more faiths for him to review! This programme is proving an interesting if sometimes disturbing look at the multitude of faiths that exist throughout the world. After two episodes there has been some mention of Christianity but the other faiths that have been glimpsed are unusual, with much ceremony and ritual but lacking any personal interest by the deity worshipped.
In Psalm 139, which has titles ‘The Inescapable God’ or ‘the God who is there’; the God that David describes is one who ‘even before a word is on my tongue O Lord you know it completely’ (verse 4). How marvellous, how wonderful, how amazing it for us to be in a relationship with God and to have as our friend his only son; Jesus, the way, the truth and the life, who chose his disciples from ordinary people. In John 1 we read of Jesus saying to Philip ‘Follow me’ who recognises Jesus as the one whom the prophets have written about. In verses 43 onwards there are many terms used to describe Jesus ‘Rabbi, Son of God, King of Israel’. The men Jesus called to follow him recognise that this is no ordinary teacher, but the longed-for Messiah. Jesus has chosen us; he knows us intimately and believes that we have the potential to become like him. If we accept his call to ‘follow me’ our lives will be transformed, but we must remember to keep our eyes on him and not become distracted.
Gillian Beardwood
Facebook seems to have taken over the world. Millions of people across the world are in instant contact with each other. I have got over 300 ‘friends’ and am a member of about 30 groups. I have even set up a group called Friends Of Steve at St Lukes In Liverpool (FOSSILS). Sites like this have opened a new world in communication. I am in regular contact with an old friend who now lives in Erie, USA. Last year I was contacted by two fiends who were doing missionary work in China. I have had more contact with relatives in Australia than I have for 10 years. There is no end to it.
It is as if your whole life is ‘out there’. A few weeks ago I was having a coffee break during a mad day in the office. I went online and posted a brief message – ‘Steve is busy’. Within a minute someone had retorted – ‘…not too busy to go on Facebook though!’
In the middle of this frantic and immediate contact with the whole world I have been thinking about those lines from Simon and Garfunkel’s classic The Sound of Silence – ‘People talking without speaking, people hearing without listening.’
That is a real challenge for the year ahead. In a world where we can tell friends in New Zealand that we just scratched our nose; are we listening?
In James 1.19 we read this – ‘…everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.’
Are we listening? Are we listening to those who have just lost their jobs or are worried that they will be next? Are we listening to the cries of the mothers in Gaza whose children were blown up this week? Are we listening to the voices of those who live in fear of the growing gang violence in our city? Are we listening to the groans of creation (Romans 8.27) as it is being torn apart by humanity? Are we listening to the voice of God who ‘…so loved the world…’
Steve Cornforth
New Year, again! A natural time to stop and take stock of where we are at - not something many people tend to do very often! A chance to think about what's been good, what's been bad and so on, and with that in mind to think about the year ahead - maybe challenging ourselves as to what we want to be better at, or do differently compared to the last year. I guess this is the idea behind New Year's resolutions. I've not always been a fan of resolutions because my tendency with them has been to just think of something for the sake of it almost, because I think I ought to. Then when after a few days I've broken the resolution already I feel guilty for a while, before convincing myself that it didn't really matter anyway! However, when thought through properly, and if it's for genuinely good reasons, there is definitely value in resolving to do something that will make a positive difference to our own lives and hopefully to the lives of others. For me the key to this is keeping God at the centre of our lives and seeking to live lives that please him; trusting in him and his strength when things get tough.
I guess this year more than ever many people are looking to the New Year with a real sense of trepidation and fear. The world and the future seem more unstable and uncertain than ever, shops that have been a fixture of our streets for years are closing down, many people are losing or worrying about losing jobs, and for many the outlook for the year ahead is fairly gloomy. There are no easy answers to this, I can't claim that God will make all the difficulties go away, but what I do claim is that God feels our pain and worry. He is right in the midst of all of this with us, and really wants us to trust him and look for his support in all that we face. This is never easy, but in Jesus Christ we have the perfect example of someone who trusted his heavenly Father no matter what, through thick and thin. Pete is going to be challenging us this morning with the words of Hebrews 12:2 that we're adopting as our key verse for 2009 here at St Luke's: 'let us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith…' Jesus wrote the script for us to follow and lived it out perfectly himself. As we look to this New Year, thinking about how and where we need to resolve to try and be better or different, and maybe worrying about all the uncertainty of the world and our lives at this time, let us fix our eyes on Jesus and look to his example in putting our faith and trust in God and relying on him no matter what life brings our way.
Simon Elliott