Do you struggle to understand the creation story? If so, perhaps you might like to consider a symbolic viewpoint, which is really quite simple. No years, no science - just applying the message in a practical way that everyone can understand.
Read moreJoy in Trials
As lockdown continues to ease for many, was reflect on what a trial this has - and continues to be - for some. The apostle James, in his letter, speaks of trial and testing. We stagger at his words in James ch 1:2 where he says, “my brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various trials – knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience”.
Read moreOur prayer theme: It's all about the children
Over 10 weeks of lockdown. Although some of us may be going stir-crazy, and all of us will be delighted — if a little anxious — about some easing of the restrictions, we’re all aware of some opportunities that this time has given us. For one thing, it’s as if God has pressed the Pause button, so that our eyes have time to focus on the detail of the natural world around us.
And what a time to do it: Spring!
I don’t think I have ever before been so aware of the wonders of God’s creation, watching new life emerging, from the buds and blossoms of the trees and shrubs to the noisy activity of the birds busily pairing off and then parenting. I have watched a pair of blackbirds build a nest in the honeysuckle very close to my patio doors; I saw how patiently the female sat on the eggs and, once they hatched, I marvelled how hard both parents worked from dawn to dusk to feed the scrawny little chicks. I was amazed by their carefully-coordinated flying skills, as one parent flew on to the nest at the exact time the other was exiting.
Over a week since fledging, and they are still hard at work feeding the rapidly growing youngsters who are wisely hiding under the shrubs, as the red kite flies slowly and menacingly over the garden.
As a non-parent myself, I am in awe of the patience, dedication and commitment it takes to raise young ones — and I’m not just referring to the birds!
For parents in our church family this is surely a very testing time. With the whole family at home much of the time, it takes exceptional skills and commitment to balance employment, child-minding, home schooling, Sunday Schooling, household management and so much more. Nurturing those fledglings is very demanding.
Sadly, we know that not all children have loving and supportive parents. Not all homes are safe spaces in this lockdown. News reports have exposed the dangers that some children face in abusive relationships; the incidence of domestic violence has risen dramatically in recent weeks. Too often, the parents or other household members are the predators. Until schools are able to reopen fully, and social services can operate normally, there will be no escape for some youngsters. They need our prayers.
So we are combining two thoughts for our prayer theme for the month ahead. We thank God for the emerging new life and young life that we see all around us, in creation and also in our church. It is a wonderful blessing and it gives us hope for the future: God’s new life for us all. And we pray for all parents, that they will be given the wisdom, strength and support that they need to care for their children, raising them safely and — best of all — “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”, so that they may grow to know, and to love, their Father in heaven.
The Gospel Online
Looking for some good news in the midst of the coronavirus crisis? Well, the gospel means good news, and there’s an excellent new set of resources called The Gospel Online to help explore the good news about Jesus Chris and the Kingdom of God.
Read moreOur prayer theme for this month: Kindness
As the ongoing pandemic keeps a huge proportion of the world’s population under lockdown, concerns have been raised in many quarters about the impact of these measures on mental wellbeing.
Each year during May the Mental Health Foundation promotes Mental Health Awareness Week. Their intention was to focus on the theme of sleep this year, but in light of the coronavirus outbreak, they have made the decision to change the theme to kindness. Many of us are blessed to have received kindness from others, on countless occasions and in countless ways, and we would all acknowledge the benefits it brings. During the last few weeks much media attention has been given to the outpouring of benevolence prompted by the crisis, from the simple weekly clap for carers, to the astonishing fundraising achievement of Captain Tom Moore. Many commentators have mused whether we will participate in and enjoy a kinder society as we come out the other side of this collective experience.
Comfort in the coronavirus crisis
There are times in life when we think we have it all sorted, it’s all under control. Life may not be perfect, or even particularly exciting, but we know where we are and what we are doing; the future looks fairly predictable.
And then it all falls apart.
In the space of a few weeks, our certainties have been upended as coronavirus crossed first from animal to human, and then from human to human, finding us totally unprotected. As the pandemic gathered pace we realised that we are certainly not in control of everything; that, despite all our medical and scientific advances, our lives can be completely turned upside down as we struggle to come to terms with the unstoppable advance of this new virus. We are more vulnerable than we realised, and it can all seem very frightening.
But the world has known pandemics before; plague and pestilence have been a part of life in every century. This too will pass. Perhaps what matters most now is how we deal with this, how much we care for and support each other through the next few weeks and months. We’ve already seen great acts of selflessness among those who are on the front line in the NHS, and those who care for the most vulnerable people. We have seen a huge response to the appeal for volunteers. Communities have come together to set up support networks for those who cannot look after themselves, and despite some selfish and thoughtless behaviour, the majority of people are doing whatever they can to ‘stay home, protect the NHS and save lives’. Let’s do whatever we can to help where we can, to pray for everyone affected, to share the love of Jesus and to be his hands and his feet in our communities.
Someone asked Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, “Where is God in this natural disaster?”, and he answered, “He is in the middle of it. He’s alongside us. He’s with us, he’s suffering with us … and when we turn to him, even in our darkest moments, we will find his presence.”
Times like this may test our faith, but we can come through it stronger for being tested. We may not be in control, but we know that God is. He holds the world in his hands and he loves it, and us. No matter what we experience now, God has a plan of salvation through His Son Jesus which is sure and firm. We can rest assured that the promise of a future in which God’s Kingdom will fill the earth with righteousness, peace and goodness will come to pass, and perhaps very soon.
“I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God … And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:2-4)
In this life we may not know what the future holds, but we do know Who holds the future.
(Image: courtesy of Fusion Medical)
What do God’s people look like?
God is a loving God, who wants all of his creation to worship him. However, throughout the ages, there have been those who choose to glorify God, and those who choose to go their own way. What are the hallmarks of those who choose to glorify God? They have faith (like Abel), spiritual vision (like Abram), trust in God (like Abraham and Isaac), and take a conscious stand against sin (like Noah and Moses).
Read moreNew life through baptism
As spring springs upon us, it’s a good time of year to reflect on the new life that we have as followers of Jesus. I was privileged to witness the baptism of a friend recently, and it reminded me of the wonderful new life that baptism brings.
Read moreListen for the heartbeat
At the heart of the Christmas story is a mother and her child. So simple, but on reflection full of meaning.
Read moreNewbury Fellowship Day – Building the Body
Our annual Fellowship Day was a focused around a series of presentations from Emma and Tim Palmer on the theme of ‘Building the Body’. Spiritual lessons around ‘the body’ are common. It’s a well-known and oft-used theme from the New Testament, with plenty of verses exhorting greater unity and appreciation of all the parts (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12). This study, however, took a different approach.
Read moreIn everything give thanks
We celebrated harvest festival on Sunday, remembering God’s amazing creation, and together giving thanks for everything: the harvest, our food, shelter, family, friends, salvation, and more!
Read more…as we forgive those who sin against us
The words in the Lord’s Prayer about forgiveness are far-reaching: ‘…and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.’ (Luke 11:4, NET version).
Do we? How far are we willing to go in forgiving others when we are wronged? Whilst God’s forgiveness is freely given, it isn’t entirely unconditional: we need to believe in him and try to forgive those who have wronged us (even if we don’t succeed!).
Read moreA letter to the church of the living dead
Hey! John! Write a letter for Me? To that lot in Sardis. Tell them I’ve been keeping an eye on them, I know what they’re up to. It’s all show. They look just like a bunch of committed and enthusiastic Christians but they’re actually nothing of the sort. Dead. Nearly all of them. Just a few who are really Mine. Tell them to repent and turn to Me before I come back unexpectedly and blot them out of the book of life.
Read moreMetamorphosis – see beyond the spots
You think I’m going to talk about butterflies, don’t you? Not this time. It’s time to bring to light one of the lesser-known, but just as amazing, examples of this biological phenomenon. It’s one I’ve only recently become aware of thanks to a child in my son’s pre-school bringing me a black and orange creature resembling a tiny alligator. He told me it would turn into a ladybird and, I have to say, I was sceptical. I wasn’t familiar with the creature he showed me and I’d never heard of ladybirds coming out of cocoons. But I investigated and it turns out…he was right!
Read more“Doctor, Doctor I feel like a pair of curtains!”
“Doctor, Doctor I feel like a pair of curtains!”*
But enough silly jokes, I want to talk about dolphins in the Bible. You know, the ones in Exodus 26.
In my youth we were taught lots of Bible detail about the Tabernacle, but I never really bought into all those curtains and coverings and sockets to fasten them together. Nowadays I take more notice of “all scripture is given us for instruction.” (2Tim:3.16). And the great big cover over the whole Tabernacle is made of leather. Dolphin skins. Or porpoises. Or badger skins. Or manatee (a type of extinct sea cow).
Read moreThree days that changed the world
As we come towards the end of Easter Sunday, it’s a good time to reflect on the three days that changed the world. This blog discusses three things that were changed by Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection: our relationship with God, our relationship with one another, and…nothing at all!
Read moreWhy go to church?
We had a talk last Sunday giving us some good reasons to go to church: to encourage one another, to grow both individually and collectively, to worship, and to spread the good news.
Read moreWhen does your advent calendar end?
Our Christmas carol service this year had an advent calendar theme, with a different song, reading, or other element of the service hidden under each window. The children had great fun opening the windows by remote control!
Read moreThe Lesson of Lot’s Wife
We were reminded during a recent service about a rather enigmatic verse in Luke’s Gospel: “Remember Lot’s wife.” The lesson behind this verse goes right back to Genesis, when Lot, his wife, and their family were running away from the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah as they were being destroyed. Lot’s wife looks back and is caught up in the destruction. But the real lesson of Lot’s wife is not where she set her eyes, but where she set her heart.
Read moreFaith in a digital world
Well, since you are reading this blog, you have embraced (to a degree at least) the digital world in which we live! The digital world presents both opportunities and threats to Christians. In my view, the opportunity to reach new audiences, enhance ‘in-reach’ within churches and church communities, access information to help us understand God’s word, educate our children more effectively, and make the most of global connectivity far outweighs the threats.
Read more