Reflections

These reflections are published most Sundays on the front page of our parish newsletter.

10 January 2010
17 January 2010
24 January 2010
31 January 2010

7 February 2010
14 February 2010
21 February 2010
28 February 2010

7 March 2010

Earlier reflections may be found here (2009) here (2008) here (2007) here (2006), here (2005), here (2004), here (2003) and here (2002).

7 March 2010

Our separation from God began when Adam And Eve rebelled, followed by the murder of Abel and our speedy ejection from Eden. A story it may be, but it’s also a depiction of how difficult it is for us to live in harmony for very long. We are sinners and this knowledge should help instil within us a spirit of humility. Don’t judge lest ye be judged! But we do.

And yet it wasn’t always like that. In Genesis we learn God created heaven and earth. He created the animals, the birds and fish that populated their own habitats, and they were sustained by any number of nourishing foods. And last of all he created humanity and after each act of creation, he uttered those life affirming words, ’It is good’.

So God was pleased with us all, not just Christians. I grew up as a Christian believing in ’original sin’ which goes back to the fall of Adam and Eve, which has led me to see the need in others to repent of their sinful nature, but God’s belief in our goodness preceded that so I am now trying to look for the essential goodness in others, whoever they may be. I might be wrong, but in my time of reflection over this I was reminded that teachers, instead of pointing out children’s mistakes are asked to catch the children being good and then praising them. This has the effect of increasing the child’s self image and teaching becomes less difficult.

In your own time of prayer ask God to give you the time and patience to talk long enough with those with whom you disagree until you find common ground and on that common ground tentatively explore your differences. But be careful it might be you and I who are wrong. But that’s where humility comes in doesn’t it.

Richie Brown

28 February 2010

Who could have predicted 10 years ago that there would be more mobile phones than people? That Islam would be part of our national consciousness? That there would be a rise in militant atheism? That people would spend more time on-line than watching TV? (I heard someone suggest recently the Lord's Prayer should have a new clause: deliver us from e-mail.)

This rapidly changing world in which we live ought to change the way in which we as a church live out our calling. 90 of us met in the hall last Wednesday to think about what it means to be a 'mission-shaped' church and developing Fresh Expressions of church.

'It is simply a way of describing the planting of new congregations or churches which are different in ethos and style from the church which planted them; because they are designed to reach a different group of people than those already attending the original church'. (Bishop Graham Cray)

This will be a challenging course because it asks us not to think of ourselves but of others. This reflects the character of Jesus himself and reminds us that our main aim as a church is to strive to look more and more like Him in terms of his nature and character.

Pete Spiers

21 February 2010

Lent began in the very early days of the Church as a time of preparation for Easter, when Christians rededicated themselves. It was also when those new to the faith were instructed and prepared for baptism. By keeping the forty days of Lent, we imitate Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness.

The baptism of Jesus comes just before the temptations. God has just told Jesus that “You are my Son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased.” Jesus is then led by the Spirit into the wilderness to spend more time with God. He trusted that God would provide everything he needed. At the end of the 40 day period Satan took his opportunity to tempt Jesus when he was weak and hadn’t eaten anything. Jesus resisted each temptation with words from the Bible, “it is written …”

As followers of Jesus we are aware that we are tempted every day. In what we think, in what we do and in what we say. And our answer is the same. What does scripture say? If we know our scriptures we are able to resist the devil and all his works, over and over again.

It tells us in 1 Corinthians 10.13: “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.”

When we are tempted we know that God will help us, through the Spirit who lives in us and by the scriptures. He will help us by providing a way out.

Lent is a time for reflecting and taking stock. Do you need to commit yourself to learning more about the scriptures or maybe go on a prayer walk around the neighbourhood, listening to what God is saying. Do you need to give up something or take up something in order to spend more time getting closer to God.

We often sing this song in church. “He chose the cross with every breath, the perfect life, the perfect death, he chose the cross … because of Jesus’ unfailing love, I am forgiven, I am restored.”

Barbara Chambers

14 February 2010

So, Valentine’s Day – the romantic day of the year! Sent your card? Written your nice, corny limerick? Received your card signed ‘Love?’ or ‘from your Valentine’? But what is it all about? Where does the whole idea of Valentine’s Day come from? Who was Valentine?

He was actually a bishop in the early church in the Roman Empire during the reign of Claudius II as Emperor. Claudius thought that unmarried men made better soldiers, and so passed a law banning young men from marrying. It is said that Valentine took pity on these young soldiers, became their advocate and began to perform secret marriages. He was soon found out and jailed around 270 AD. The Emperor tried to turn him from his Christian faith to worshipping the Roman gods, but he refused and instead tried to convert Claudius to Christianity, and he was sentenced to death. There are various other stories about him, such as the claim that he fell in love with his jailer’s daughter, and shortly before his death sent her a note signed ‘from your Valentine’. Whatever the truth an aura of romance surrounded his life and demise, his tale was told and spread far and wide, and he became the patron saint of love and romance.

What struck me about this was that faith was crucial to who Valentine was, and what he did arose from that faith. And actually while the various stories about him marrying young couples in secret and so on sound nicely romantic, the fact is it involved real risk and led to his death. He did it knowing full well the risk he was taking in disobeying laws passed by the Emperor. He showed a love that meant real self-sacrifice. To my mind this idea of love involving real hardship and self-sacrifice, arising from a deep faith is something that is hard to see in the images of love portrayed by our modern Valentine’s Day!

Enjoy today, celebrate love – but remember that love is about more than cheesy cards with hearts on, limericks and cuddly bears! Valentine’s story gives us a glimpse of that, and ultimately God fully demonstrates what true love is. As John writes ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…’ (John 3.16), ‘Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.’ (John 15.13). Putting others first, selfless, sacrificial, courageous, challenging and yes romance – all part and parcel of what love really is.

Simon Elliott

7 February 2010

One of the readings today from the lectionary sheet is Revelation 4. Coincidentally (or Godincidentally) the same scripture will be used this evening in the Café service, although it was chosen a couple of weeks ago as the service was planned.

Just picture the scene in heaven, of endless worship and that beautiful familiar verse which we sing at communion “Holy, Holy, Holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.” But do we revere his holiness or have we made God a casual God, an ordinary God, our best mate, do we need to rediscover God’s holiness? He is not common, he is not ordinary, he is not casual, he is distinct, he is unique, with no rivals or competition, he is so far above and beyond us, he is not like us and never to be taken lightly. “Who is like Thee among the gods, O Lord. Who is like Thee, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders.” [Exodus 15.11]

The first thing Jesus ever taught us to pray ‘Our Father in heaven, holy be your name’, - let your name be regarded as holy. Sometimes I cringe when I think of how we have marketed that name, on tee shirts, cups, key rings, made it common and ordinary. I recently heard the phrase “Playing marbles with God’s diamonds”. God is holy, there is no other attribute of God repeated in scripture apart from his holiness. The emphasis and importance is in the repetition, holy, holy, holy.

And how do we think of Jesus now? Do we think of him as he once was when he walked the earth, during his three year public ministry? But the truth is that his resurrection changed him, so that he no longer possesses a merely earthly body, but now is glorified by his transformed body. His glory and holiness are no longer veiled, and the description of him in the book of Revelation is the description of him as he is now and will be for ever. John, his closest friend, who once laid his head on Jesus’ breast, in the book of Revelation falls before him as a dead man, overcome by his holiness and glory. So when we come together today let’s worship him in the splendour of his holiness.

Shirley Wallin

31 January 2010

Today, EDUCATION SUNDAY, is a national day of prayer and celebration for everyone involved in the world of education. In our worship today we, as a congregation, will be able to demonstrate our commitment to learning and teaching, and, more specifically, to those who learn and teach.

With standards in education at the forefront of the political agenda, those who teach are under constant pressure to “deliver”. I believe teachers don't just need prayer to help them manage their time more wisely and cope with their often excessive workload. They also 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. I know 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.

Some years ago the General Synod of the Church of England gave the following resolution its overwhelming support “The C of E considers Church schools to be at the centre of the Church’s mission to the nation” We at St Luke’s are considering ways of involving more children in the life of our church, and investigating how we may take the church out to where the children are, recognizing that in today’s society Sunday morning is not perhaps the best time for some families to come to worship.

Eric Linford

24 January 2010

The written Word of God, the Bible, has been changing people’s lives ever since God first called out his special people through Moses and he first wrote the 10 commandments with his own hand upon the tablets of stone on Mount Sinai. When the Jewish people returned from Babylon the law of God was read publicly to them by Ezra, and it caused them to weep. By the time of Jesus there was a Greek version of the Old Testament, and probably many parts in Aramaic, the language of the ordinary people.

Having recently had my 65th birthday I have been reflecting on the fact that I have been teaching the scriptures and preaching for 45 years, over twenty of them at St Luke's. What a privilege it has been and how patiently you have listened. What has encouraged me more than anything is the way that the scriptures are still changing and moving people in so many ways. From children to pensioners scripture is still powerful and life-changing, comforting and convicting.

The important thing is that we respond to God’s Word. We do not need to be intellectual or have wonderful knowledge for God to speak to us each day through his Word. We do need to be open and responsive, because the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4.12). My prayer is that I will continue to be challenged and changed because I certainly need it!

Alan Lewney

17 January 2010

I was reminded of a parable recently that was not from the Bible. A father is telling his son about life. He says that within us all there are two wolves who are at war with each other. One of them talks about envy, resentment, self-pity, dishonesty and selfishness while the other wolf talks about joy, goodness, love, confidence and humility. ‘Which wolf wins,’ asks the little boy? What do think the answer is? Read on.

At the end of the day I recall the things I should have done and did not do and I recall those things I should not have done but did do. I seek God’s forgiveness and am forgiven and I resolve to do better on the morrow. Two thoughts came to me as I thought about this. The first was that I should spend more time reflecting on what I do right than on what I do wrong. Not to be conceited but to grow in confidence in what I do well. The second was that reflecting on what I do right is a positive approach to tackling the concerns of the next day.

I don’t spend enough time building on the positive aspects of what I do that is pleasing to the Lord. If I spent more time dwelling on my better actions then maybe I would consider others before myself more often. I might also consider the consequences of not completing tasks I know I’ve had the opportunity and time to have done more often as well.

The grandfather seemed to know this because his answer to the boy was that it was up to the boy and up to every one else, including me, to decide which of the two wolves to feed. Perhaps if I concentrated more on doing the right thing and reflecting on the good I do then the wolf representing joy, love and kindness will be fed and be allowed to grow and the wolf of self interest and envy will wither. What do you think?

Richie Brown

10 January 2010

New Year is often seen as a good time to take stock of one's life. Christian discipleship has always involved allowing ourselves to be examined by God and re-launching ourselves afresh in his service.

George Whitefield was an 18th century preacher and evangelist who had a huge impact in the UK and in America. He was a contemporary of John Wesley and a fellow founder of Methodism. What was the secret of his extraordinarily effective life? Perhaps it was the fact that he had a daily checklist with which he assessed his day before going to sleep each night. It involved asking himself questions such as:

• Have I been fervent in private prayer?
• Have I been simple and well controlled in everything?
• Have I been diligent in studies?
• Have I thought or spoken unkindly of anyone?
• Have I after every pleasure, immediately given thanks?

In this way he was able to seek God's forgiveness and his help in living as a Christian. What have you decided is going to be different for you in 2010 in your life as a Christian?

Pete Spiers

this page was last modified on 5 March 2010.