Sharing some thoughts

Happy new year! We have begun a new year in the Church. It seems a bit confusing that the Church’s year starts before Christmas but actually it makes sense. This is because in this year we are beginning by getting ourselves ready to greet our Saviour at Christmas. Advent always seems a strange time, it is the time when we are looking to start again, we are getting ready. Every new year people come up with different ideas of how they might change, or new things they may take up. Well we all know that the beginning of December is not the best time to take up a new hobby but in the Church it is. In our new year of the Church we are reminded at the beginning of the year what we are looking to do, which is to welcome Jesus. At the beginning of our year we are waiting for Jesus and this waiting isn’t just about sitting down and twiddling our thumbs, it is about doing something different, something in preparation. As we wait, we are of course waiting for Christmas but we are also wai...

Today is the last Sunday in the church year. Next week, advent Sunday, marks the start of the new Christian year as we begin to reflect specifically on our readiness to meet Jesus, whether that is in the celebration of his birth at Christmas, or at his promised second coming. This is the Sunday that has been designated as Christ the King Sunday, a day to reflect on our relationship with God and to ask the question whether Christ really is the King of our lives.  In our readings today we’re drawn into this reflection... The reading from Jeremiah (23:1-6) talks about a common biblical topic - shepherds. Shepherds were caring and attentive. They were willing to risk everything to guide and protect the sheep in their care so it’s not surprising that this was used so commonly as an indication of how God cares for his people.  But in this reading from Jeremiah things have started to go wrong - these shepherds weren’t caring for the sheep in their care. In fact, quite th...

from Helen Sometimes things in life seem backwards or the wrong way around.  Well, Christmas is here ... it’s not, but it is ! I already feel Christmassy, I have started to think about presents, bought Christmas cards and the best bit Father Christmas is everywhere in the shops. And of course, he is coming here on Saturday ! This is so exciting but even though we are not in advent yet, Christmas is coming !  How strange then in our gospel reading this morning to hear of the crucifixion. That makes it seem as if Easter is around the corner, and the Church calendar seems to have gone a little bit mad ! But I suspect that the Church is not confused, because actually none of the gospel message can make sense without first of all the crucifixion and then of course the resurrection, and as we move towards advent and Christmas, we remember what our Saviour was actually born for.  I am sure I am not the only person in this Church this morning who has read a gossip...

There’s apparently a courthouse in Ohio where raindrops that fall on the north side of the building go into Lake Ontario and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, while those falling on the south side go into the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico.  At precisely the point of the peak of the roof, just a gentle puff of wind can determine the destiny of many raindrops. Which way the wind blows will make a difference of more than 2,000 miles as to their final destination.  It’s a sometimes worrying thought that the decisions and choices we make can have a massive influence on us day by day and even perhaps into eternity…  There’s a cemetery with a grave which reads, “ Pause my friend, as you walk by. As you are now, so once was I and as I am now so you will be. Prepare my friend, to follow me.” To this rather challenging inscription a visitor added:  “To follow you is not my intent until I know which way you went !” Life is all about choices – and toda...

From Helen Today is a special day. It’s  a day to remember, to pray and to be active. Today we remember and give thanks for all  those who have died in war. We pray for them and their families. Today we will remember those who  both have and continue to fight for something better. Today we remember those who are in the armed services, we remember all those who have died as a result of war. This includes the civilians. Families who lose the people they love. We pray for them. The remembering and prayer are the more obvious bits, the be active is more difficult. By being active I am thinking of our role to bring peace. As followers of Jesus, also known as the prince of peace we are to bring peace. You all know that I rather like chocolate. I have never been a fan of sweets. I always wanted to like jelly babies as they looked so cute but sadly I still don’t like them. I do like the reason Jelly babies exist though. Jelly babies came out in 1918. They were rele...

The Romanian Pastor, Richard Wurmbrand, spent 14 years in prison under the Communist regime just for being a Christian. 4 of those years were spent underground where he was kept in a box. When he was eventually released his son asked him what he’d learned during his time in prison.  His reply was that in all that time he’d almost forgotten a lot of the Bible, but he knew 3 things for certain; that there is a God, that Jesus is his Son and that love is the best way. Today in the Church Calendar we commemorate All Saints Day, and for many Richard Wurmbrand would be the epitome of a modern Saint. Often when we think about saints we think of great people from years gone by who appear in stained glass windows, but in God’s eyes all of us are called to be saints... Today’s readings help to emphasise this responsibility but also of the power of God available to us all through the power of the Holy Spirit.  The reading from Daniel (7:1-3,15-18) is not easy at all - it...