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God - a parachute for emergencies??

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  When we think about ‘Peace’ we may well think of peace between nations, peace as the absence of war; peace between people, peace in our own hearts – generally we don’t think of peace as something that can turn up when we’re terrified, much as we might hope for it – and yet this morning, we have heard Luke’s account of Jesus’ appearance (Luke 24:36-49) after the resurrection. It was a sight that brought incredible fear, yet a sight that would transform these disciples forever…   The disciples were frightened – in their position I think I may have been as well ! Jesus was dead, but now was alive and there with them – they are understandably stunned, they must have been doubting their own sanity, and Jesus recognised this, and so, seeing that their reaction to his greeting of ‘Peace’ really hadn’t brought them any peace, he asked for something to eat. They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he ate it in front of them – it almost seems bizarre and yet, this act showed that Jesus was t
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A week that was… And IS

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Our gospel reading this morning (John 20:19-31) begins on the first evening of Easter. The disciples were gathered together in the upper room, hiding and scared. The doors were chained and bolted, for fear that what had happened to Jesus might also happen to them. There was a huge amount of confusion – the 2 Marys and Salome had earlier gone to the tomb of Jesus and found it empty. Simon, Peter and John also heard the story and ran to the tomb, witnessing the same thing as the women.  Then Mary came back, and said that she had seen Jesus alive. And, later on that same day, two disciples travelling on the road towards Emmaus also saw him. Yet, as the disciples gathered in the room that Easter evening, discussing the events of that day, the main emotion they experienced was fear. The door remained bolted. They had not yet experienced the power of Easter - They hadn’t met the risen Jesus. And so they remained powerless, and full of fear.  So, that evening, they were gathered, fearful and
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Exploding with good news!

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  In  so many ways, Easter Day needs no words and yet here I am…!     And so I’ll begin with the simple fact that Easter is the reason we’re here. If the cross at Calvary had been the end of the story, then it would have been the end of the story. Jesus would have been long forgotten. But today, in spite of all the miserable stories we hear about the decline of Christianity, Jesus is proclaimed as the Messiah by 2.5 billion people…    And the invitation that Jesus offered in his earthly life to follow him remains the same today – come and follow, just as you are… That simple invitation changes lives…    In our readings today we’re thinking unsurprisingly about life, about abundant life! In the Old Testament reading from Isaiah (25:6-9) we heard of the mountain prepared by the Lord with all kinds of rich food and good wine. It’s the picture not of a trip to a good restaurant, but of God providing abundantly for his people, of God wanting the very best for every one of us – and he’
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Holy Week - some questions, some thoughts..

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  Holy Week – the questions…   Speaking to someone recently I said how much I valued Holy Week. I’ve thought about that a bit more and wondered what it is about it that is special, and my answer seems to be that it really does encompass so much of what my faith is about… There are other events and things that have made me reflect more closely on my faith and had a great impact on me, but Holy Week is up there with those things that are formative in my faith.  So, what is it about for me? Well, I think it’s something to do with the questions raised, and the answers given, or sometimes not. It’s about the statements made and the challenges offered and it’s about the promises made, verbally or implied, and the practical way in which God’s promises are revealed before us.  Palm Sunday is an exciting day in the church calendar. A day of palm waving and processions, a day of chaos in many churches as those processions move at different speeds in different directions, sometimes with d
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