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Praying Together 20th November 2022

Praying Together 20th November 2022

by | Nov 20, 2022 | Pray Together

crown of thorns

Collect For Christ the King

Eternal God, you exalted Jesus Christ to rule over all things, and have made us instruments of his kingdom: by your Spirit empower us to love the unloved, and to minister to all in need, then at the last bring us to your eternal realm where we may be welcomed into your everlasting joy and may worship and adore you for ever: through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Jeremiah 23:1-6

Luke 23:33-43

28 November 2021. Advent Sunday – the Christian New Year’s Day. We looked forward to the Story that St Luke would tell in the year to come.

First of all, there would be the announcement of two forthcoming births – one born to be a messenger, telling people to prepare for the coming of the Messiah; one to give birth to a King whose reign will never end.

A very old, loyal woman will tell of prophecy fulfilled; a devout, patient believer will himself be blessed in blessing the newborn who will be a light to the nations.

The young man, Yeshua – or in English, Jesus – will begin His ministry with a Satanic test – an opportunity to use His birthright to gain wealth and power.  A temptation He will refuse.

In the coming years, he will lead a small group of disciples, teaching them by example. He will heal. He will perform miracles. He will explain the true nature of God’s love for All His people – whoever they may be – man, woman, Jew, Greek, slave, free. He will offer freedom and forgiveness for the dregs and outcasts of society. He will reject false, self-centred leadership and replace it with servanthood. He will do all this, despite knowing that He will be persecuted by those whose only love is for themselves.

He will turn His face to Jerusalem, the theatre where His Destiny will be revealed – a destiny of unearned suffering for the sake of usually unrequited love.

And even at the last, in unbearable pain and humiliation, His unconditional and universal love will be demonstrated in His final words – the words of comfort to which we cling even when all hope appears lost. For today, and forever, He is Christ the King.

Truly I tell you; today you will be with me in paradise.

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Praying Together 13th November 2022

Praying Together 13th November 2022

by | Nov 13, 2022 | Pray Together

emergency and public service workers ambulance in the rain

Remembrance Collect

God of peace, whose Son Jesus Christ proclaimed the kingdom and restored the broken to wholeness of life: Look with compassion on the anguish of the world, and by your healing power make whole both people and nations; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 2:1-5 – The Future House of God

John 15:9-17

Remembrance Sunday. The image that immediately springs to mind is a Poppy – perhaps with the caption ‘Lest we forget’. An important message. But unfortunately, we have indeed forgotten. Rather than honouring those who laid down their lives for friends and family, the self-centred, power-hungry, money-driven state of the world is an insult not just to the memory of those lost in war, but also those today who are prepared to risk their lives for people they don’t even know.

The emergency services, fire, police, ambulance. Coastguards. Lifeboat crews. During Covid, Health service staff were given choruses of applause in thanks – but they remain understaffed, unacknowledged and underpaid. All too easily, we take for granted those who we rely upon to allow us to get on with our lives in security and comfort.

And, sadly, most of the time, we take our Saviour and Redeemer for granted too. Not intentionally, but by allowing the things of the world to take priority over obeying Jesus’ command to love my neighbour. We read Paul’s letter to Laodicea, and don’t realise that we’re just the same.

On Remembrance Sunday, we think about sacrifice and perhaps wear a poppy – but we then put it away until next year. Every Sunday, we worship and give thanks – but then Monday comes. Do we then get on with daily living, only calling upon Jesus when we’re in trouble? I suspect that often, we do. I know I do.

War, violence, hatred, anger have a basis in worldly sin, and we recognise that clearly – but equally sinful neglect of the poor (in every sense) is easily ignored – and so is neglect of our Saviour, and His supreme gift of freedom.

So on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, it is right to keep silence for the fallen, in every sphere of life, but unless we resolve to remember them as we remember Jesus – every day of the year – it means little.

You talk o’ better food for us, an’ schools, an’ fires, an’ all:
We’ll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don’t mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow’s Uniform is not the soldier-man’s disgrace.
For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Chuck him out, the brute!”
But it’s “Saviour of ‘is country” when the guns begin to shoot.

‘Tommy’ – Rudyard Kipling

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Praying Together 6th November 2022

Praying Together 6th November 2022

by | Nov 6, 2022 | Pray Together

ruins of human civilisation

Collect for Trinity 21  

God of peace, whose Son Jesus Christ proclaimed the kingdom and restored the broken to wholeness of life: Look with compassion on the anguish of the world, and by your healing power make whole both people and nations; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2: 1-5, 13-17

Matthew 22: 15-22

When politicians are being questioned on Radio or TV, a well-prepared interviewer will have a number of loaded questions or traps laid to which there will be no answer that doesn’t put the subject in a bad light. The classic one is ‘Have you stopped beating your wife?’ The answer ‘No’ implies you still do – ‘Yes’ implies you used to in the past. Outrageously protesting that you never started leads to listeners thinking there’s no smoke without fire, and that you might in the future. The only way to counter such loaded questions is to expose the motive of the questioner and the validity of the assumption the question is based upon.

‘Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor?’ If Jesus says ‘Yes’, the Anti-Roman Pharisees will have evidence that He condones the Roman occupation. If He says ‘No’, the Herodians will accuse Him of treasonous rebellion against the Government. One way or another, they’ve got the evidence they will need to condemn Him.

Or so they think.

The fallacy of the question is that it is based on the assumption that the two things are opposites; whereas in reality, they are not related. If you want infrastructure, it has to be paid for in taxes, and you’re probably better off with Roman project managers rather than relying on the incompetent leadership of Herod. The currency is a piece of metal called a denarius, the value and validity of which is supported and controlled by a Roman-based economy.

On the other hand, God’s currency is love. Unconditional love, expressed in service, justice, freedom. It is not based on physical things, coins, possessions, power; but grace. God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.

Human structures, societies and cultures will always eventually crumble no matter how many taxes are paid.. But God’s Kingdom is everlasting. And it’s free for the asking.

Praying together 30th October 2022

Praying together 30th October 2022

by | Oct 30, 2022 | Pray Together

seedlings-growing

Luke 18: 9-14

Ephesians 1:11-23

‘Saint’ Defn. #1: a person acknowledged as holy or virtuous and regarded in Christian faith as being in heaven after death. Well, I’m not dead yet (or at least I wasn’t at the time of writing.) So that’s not me.

‘Saint’ Defn. #2: a very virtuous, kind, or patient person: That’s definitely not me

‘Saint’ Defn. #3: a sanctified person – i.e.  someone – anyone – who sincerely confesses Jesus as Lord and accepts His salvation. Now that’s more like it.

It’s a perfectly valid tribute for us to sing ‘For all the Saints who from their labours rest.’ But we – the saints who are still alive – haven’t finished our labours yet. We have a Gospel to proclaim. So, Sister Saint and Brother Saint, let’s get on with it – and bearing in mind the heart-felt prayer of Theresa of Avila, in the power of the Spirit, let’s help make a few more.

teresa avila quote
Praying Together 23rd October 2022

Praying Together 23rd October 2022

by | Oct 23, 2022 | Pray Together

child-hiding-behind-wall

Luke 18: 9-14

And the devil did grin, for his darling sin is pride that apes humility

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The essence of a good story is getting the reader to identify with the characters. There is no doubt that the story Jesus tells is a good one – but identifying with either of the characters is uncomfortable to say the least. We’ve no choice though – in fact we have to identify with both. (Well, I do, anyway.)

Sometimes (OK, often) I feel quite proud of myself. When I feel I’ve done something ‘Christian’. Giving to charity, perhaps. Or doing something that involves a little ‘self-sacrifice’. (Only a little, though – let’s not get carried away.). I might have taken time out to spend with someone I don’t really want to talk to, or who I find difficult. Rather like a needy child, wanting God my Father to notice and give me a pat on the back.

And at other times, I feel utterly wretched, because I’ve let Him down and gone my way rather than His way – behaving selfishly, saying something hurtful, walking on the other side of the road. I feel uncomfortable even to acknowledge my failure to myself.

By nature, I am a proud person, and I do want to do good. But I don’t want to act like the Pharisee doing it just for show or the hope of reward. Equally, I have to recognise that I am a sinner, but I don’t want to have to stand far off and be too ashamed to come to God in prayer especially in the awareness that I will never be sinless and never unashamed.
So what does the parable teach us? St. Theresa of Avila said that humility is living in the truth. Being aware of my pride, but trying to love as commanded; being aware of my failure, but asking and receiving forgiveness. 

If we are searchingly honest with ourselves, fully aware of what we did and didn’t do, we identify with both characters in the story; but we can find comfort in knowing that we are loved for who we are – neither perfect or hugely flawed. We don’t stop doing right because of the fear of becoming proud – and we don’t let past failure stop us from living in His house. We’re His special children, and He will never leave us, no matter whether we be Pharisee of Tax-Collector.

Having said which, I find this poem helps bring me down to earth with a bump when I feel pleased with myself. It ought to be pinned on every vestry door.

In Church

“And now to God the Father”, he ends, And his voice thrills up to the topmost tiles:
Each listener chokes as he bows and bends,
And emotion pervades the crowded aisles.
Then the preacher glides to the vestry-door,
And shuts it, and thinks he is seen no more.
The door swings softly ajar meanwhile,
And a pupil of his in the Bible class,
Who adores him as one without gloss or guile,
Sees her idol stand with a satisfied smile
And re-enact at the vestry-glass
Each pulpit gesture in deft dumb-show
That had moved the congregation so.

Thomas Hardy (1840 – 1928)

child-praise-by-the-sea
Praying Together 16th October 2022

Praying Together 16th October 2022

by | Oct 16, 2022 | Pray Together

woman reading scripture at the sea

2 Timothy 3:14 – 4:5

 

Are we there yet? (Title courtesy of Marjorie)

Just stop for a moment. Take a look around. How did you get to where you are at this instant in time?  Now have a look into yourself, your heart and mind, and reflect on your journey in faith – how did you get to where you are in your relationship with Jesus? I suspect a combination of things, from childhood onwards. Our individual stories will be unique; but there will be a common element – the faith of every single one will have grown as a result of reading  and/or listening to Holy Scripture.

The challenging question is this: has that growth stopped? Has your faith reached a terminus? are you waiting in hope for another bus to arrive? or are you enjoying the ever-changing view and new experiences from the front seat of an Intercity express?

When Paul writes encouragement and advice to Timothy, he makes it clear that the only way in which his pupil will be effective in his role in leading people to Christ is if he dedicated himself to continuous learning from scripture. The lesson is true for all of us. If people are content with their current knowledge, they will be open to believing all sorts of myths and legends, drifting far from the truth, just as athletes lose their strength if they don’t train every day.

Are we there yet? If you’re reading this, the answer is obviously no. But one day our learning will indeed be completed, when faith becomes reality and we, alongside all the other saints, cast our golden crowns around the glassy sea.

In the meanwhile, get your Bible out and leave it where you can use it as your travel guide to ride further up and further in. Everyday there are new things to see and learn. Get on the bus!