1st Sunday

10am - Holy Communion
(Common Worship)

2nd Sunday

10am - Cafe Church
6pm - Holy Communion
7.30pm - In His Presence

3rd Sunday

10am - Holy Communion
(Common Worship)
7.30pm - In His Presence

4th Sunday

10am - Whole Life Worship
(No Communion)
6pm - Evensong
7.30pm - In His Presence​

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Thought for the Week - Mothering Sunday
 
Dear all 


I can imagine that today is feeling very strange.  All the things we might normally do on Mothers’ Day or had planned to do on this special day have had to be changed.  The phone may still be used but it is not the same as being able to spend time with those we love and want to be with.  

One of the readings set for morning prayer today was from Isaiah 43:1-7.  You may be familiar with the passage, or recognise some of the verses when you hear them - but they are a wonderful reminder that God loves us and watches over us and is with us in the midst of all that is going on around us.

In verse 1 He says 
        Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
            I have called you by name, you are mine.

I have never checked it out but I’ve read somewhere that “Do not fear”, "Do not be afraid” of some similar instruction telling us not to be frightened occurs 365 time in the bible - one for every day of the year.  Fear is natural and it can be quite an helpful emotion when it prompts you to take yourself away from danger.  But fear is also a debilitating emotion when it begins to paralyse us - the rabbit in the headlights.  Perhaps we can remember times when we knew fear, or were frightened or anxious as a child.  I trust that at such times you also experienced the reassurance of the love of a parent or caring adult.  We may be older now but some of us still need the reassurance of a loving parent - God our Father is such a person,and although we cannot feel HIs physical loving arms around us, by HIs Holy Spirit He can, and frequently does, give us a real sense of His Presence.   The verse also reminds us that our God is not distant - He knows us by name - we’re very special to him.

He then goes not to say in verse 2
        When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
            and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
        when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
            and the flame shall not consume you.

Whatever happens, God is with us - and again whilst we cannot see Him, His Spirit can make His Presence real for us in whatever way He chooses to make Himself known.  Ask Him to be near you and let Him comfort  and strengthen you.  God promises that we need not be overwhelmed by the situations we face and the circumstances we find ourselves in - but He might just be waiting for us to ask Him to be near us and let Him comfort  and strengthen us.  The reason we can know  this is as He tells us in verses 3 & 4 
    
        For I am the Lord your God
           the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.
and  



        Because you are precious in my sight,
           and honoured, and I love you,

Most of you know me well enough to know that I too can struggle at times to appreciate the truth of God’s words and can find it a challenge to practise what I preach - but if we let His words sink in they are truly life changing.  And sometimes we have need to do what the Psalmist tells us - “Be still and know that I am God”  (Ps. 46:10).  The truth about the path to our sense of Peace (or lack of it) might be in whether we can “Be Still!”.   Perhaps an unexpected result of the enforced changes to our lifestyle will be the gift of time to “Be Still” and in the stillness begin to “Know that I AM God.”.

And knowing how much we might need reassurance of the truth, He reminds us again in verse 5
            Do not fear, for I am with you;

this time it’s not because He has redeemed us it is because, not only has He done that,  He is also with us!..

So whatever you are feeling at the moment, KNOW that God is with you.  Let His Peace rest upon you and allow Him to use you to pass that Peace on to those you meet who are in need of His Peace.  If you feel comfortable with the idea, you can offer to pray for them and simply say something like “May you know God’s Peace at this time”.  If you find it hard to ask or they are uncomfortable with the idea of you praying out loud,  you can always say a  silent prayer as you part.

As an aside it has been lovely this morning as folk have popped in to church - a number from church - but it has been interesting that a few people who are not church members have also popped in to be still and light candle.   

Being Mothering Sunday we had, as usual, ordered some daffodils to give out - even ordered more as we were due to have a baptism.  In the end even the daffodils were rationed!!!  However bunches were made up and left at the bottom of the drive with a message to take a bunch for yourself and another to pass on to someone else.. From where I am in church I have seen that people have been doing that - may they too be blessed with God’s Peace and pass that on when they give the extra bunch away.

May God bless you both beyond your expectation and beyond your imagination; that you may know His Presence and experience His Peace as we continue to live through this challenging and uncertain times.   Also take care and BE Sensible!!! 

I have been asked if I am ok with these messages being forward to others- if you feel they're helpful and you want to, you are welcome to do so.

With love in Christ 

​Jonathan