Clergy Blogs
Thursday 17th April
Dear All,
Reading: In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2: 5-11
Reflection: While today is Maundy Thursday, and we have got here by following the readings about Mary pouring the pound of costly perfume over Jesus’ feet, Jesus telling his Father how troubled his soul was, with crowd only hearing thunder when Father God replied and then yesterday the beginning of the Last Supper story – that we will hear the end of this evening as we remember and celebrate at our (7.30pm) Holy Communion service at St. John’s Farley
Last Sunday we read from Paul’s letter to the Philippians. It was written from Rome where he was in prison; yet even in prison his faith is undiminished, if anything, his faith just goes on getting stronger – if that seems possible! Paul describes Jesus perfectly – but did you notice the introductory sentence? It isn’t written just to tell us about Jesus, Paul wrote it to urge the people of Philippi and us, to use Jesus’ life as the perfect example, the ultimate role model, of how to do life with one another. Jesus was a servant, humble, full of love and peace all the way to the cross – what a challenge!
Let’s prayerfully read this passage again:
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Amen
Worship through music: Meekness and Majesty Written (1986) and sung by Graham Kendrick https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gtt52JEW_Zo
God bless,
Jane 🙏
Thursday 10th April
Dear All,
Readings from Romans: I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation (1:16).
We live in view of God's mercy (12:1)
So that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (15:6).
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (15:13)
Reflection: At the beginning of Lent we started our exploration of Romans with a desire to grow in spiritual confidence so we could say with Paul, in the face of rival empires and philosophies, 'I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation' (1:16). We set out not just to read Romans, but to have help to make sense of life through it.
Paul so believed in the power of the gospel, the Good News of Jesus, to bring us forgiveness, through grace and God’s mercy, but even more than that Paul ends his letter by showing us that the Good News is for the whole cosmos. This letter is incredible, it turns out to be, “a public truth for the whole of life”.
If we are one family, adopted by God, our Father, this runs counter culturally to much around us where the tendency is to live in ghettoes, to organise around identity politics and to treat with contempt anyone with whom we disagree. The gospel, by contrast is intensely relational, turning enemies into friends, creating a culture of welcome and inclusion, which challenges us to climb down off our high horse, give up our rights, 'so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ' (15:6).
We’ve discovered through Paul’s letter to the Romans, that the gospel, the Good News of Jesus, is more rooted, relevant and relational than we dare to imagine. So, I wonder if, with Paul, we might decide not to be ashamed of the gospel. Instead, resolve to live it out and to share it with others. If so, what might it mean for us to make plans to share the gospel? This week’s final section of our study looked at Romans 15 - the penultimate chapter of the letter and it has helped us understand Paul's motivation and method for sharing the gospel. I wonder what we could do practically to share the good news of Jesus today?
This Lent, whether we’ve been reading Paul’s letter to the Romans in the groups or at home, I wonder what’ve we discovered, what would we want to share? How might we now live 'in view of God's mercy, (12:1) in the next step of our everyday life?
And as we move out of Lent, towards Palm Sunday, Holy Week, Good Friday and Easter, we conclude the blessing with which Paul finishes his letter:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (15:13)
Worship through music: Holy Spirit Living Breath of God Words and Music by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend, sung (2019) by Keith & Kristyn Getty, incorporating the beautiful melody of “Gabriel’s Oboe” written by Ennio Morricon
God bless,
Jane 🙏
Thursday 3rd April
Dear All,
Reading: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters[a] in Christ:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people – the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world – just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. Colossians 1: 1-6
(This is the opening to Paul and Timothy’s letter to the church in Colossae – it speaks of the Hope that this week’s study of Romans is about. Last week we discovered that Paul’s later letter to Timothy, was the final letter he penned, while in prison in Rome.)
Reflection: However, our reflection, ‘It should be more than a Sunday roast…” is a reflection on last Sunday, Mothering Sunday, written by Jo Trickey*
It feels like yet another retail gimmick as shops replace ‘Valentine's Day’ with ‘Best Mum’ cards and pink bouquets of flowers. Companies offer ‘unsubscribe from Mother’s Day emails’ options while pubs encourage ‘Sign up for a Sunday roast – give Mum the week off!’ This last Sunday marked a beautiful celebration of mothers. For those of us with great mothers, it’s a chance to thank them for all that they have given us – safe places to grow and learn – and to celebrate that these women echo some of the beautiful picture of motherhood painted in the Bible. It’s also a day some of us find hard, as we mourn the people we miss, the people we longed to become, or a series of disappointments. The origin of this celebration is not some cosy idyll of family life, but Mothering Sunday. This was the Sunday in Lent when people were given holiday to go back to their ‘mother church’, the place where they had grown up, and spend time with family and their faith communities. When I look back at the little Baptist Church in New Zealand where I grew up, I have lots of memories of playing on balconies (including the forbidden condemned balcony), laughing with friends, and learning memory verses. It was a safe and nurturing place to be a young disciple of Jesus. Those first months and years of faith are shaped by the people around us. As we see an uptick in people coming to know Jesus up and down our country at the moment, I wonder how we are ‘mothering’ people in the early days of their faith. How do we make a safe home to mess up, to read Scripture, and to learn to be disciples? How do we help equip them for all the challenges of following Jesus in a way that is relevant to all of their life? Paul’s writing to the Colossian church inspires me: ‘We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people’ (Colossians 1:3–4). Let’s thank God for these new believers as we welcome them into the church. Let’s pray that our churches become ‘mother church’ to many more people who don’t yet know Jesus.
(*Jo is a Church Advocate at the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity with special focus on family life, women, and theology)
Worship through music: God of Eve and God of Mary by Fred Kaan (1929-2009) sung 4 years ago by Stamford Methodist Virtual Choir Organist: David Husbands.
Brilliant words sung well to a tune we know (Sussex) – reminding us to treasure the freedom we have to visit people when we wish. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFNBLfg79_g
God bless,
Jane 🙏
Thursday 27th March
Dear All,
Reading: We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. Romans 8.22-26
Reflection: Today’s reflection formed Friday’s Church of England’s Lent reflection. For us it comes as a follow up to our Lent group discussion about sensing God’s Presence and Peace which we considered last week in our Lent course and then also Hope, which we will be looking at next week.
C. S. Lewis reminds us that ‘God’s presence is not the same as the feeling of God’s presence. He may be doing most for us when we think He is doing least.’
Sometimes we’ll be able to see, hear, feel or understand what God is up to. And sometimes – oftentimes – we won’t.
This is where we have no option but to trust and hope that, just as Lewis suggests, God is working even when we’re completely unaware of it, even when we can’t see any evidence of it, even when our circumstances seem to be telling a different story.
It’s in those times that we need to rely on the knowledge that all that we see is not all that there is and decide to wait with patience, hope and trust.
Everyone is welcome to join us for any/all of the lent sessions – it’s a brilliant course – please do join us if you can: Wednesdays 7.30-9pm in Awbridge Village Hall Committee Room and Thursdays 2-3.30pm in Braishfield Church Room.
Worship through music: Living Hope Phil Wickham
All My Hope on God is Founded
God bless,
Jane 🙏
Wednesday 19th March
Dear All,
Reading: I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.
Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.
Greet also the church that meets at their house.
Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.
Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.
Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.
Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord.
Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.
Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test.
Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.
Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew.
Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.
Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord.
Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.
Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.
Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them.
Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord’s people who are with them.
…. Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith— to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Romans 16:1-15, 25-27
Reflection: This reading is from the closing chapter of Paul’s letter to the house churches in Rome – written about AD55 – quite a while before any of the gospels were written down.
Paul clearly has a deep affection for so many in the church in Rome - sending them personal greetings and encouragements! However, even more strikingly is the diversity, the counter-cultural nature of those named: Greek, Roman, Jew, slave, free, men and remarkably the number of women, including Phoebe who was to deliver and expound the letter to each church group.
In the video we watched at last week’s first Lent Group, Andrew Ollerton explains the unique context of Paul’s letter to the Romans it’s fascinating!
The link below is to the preview page - so scroll down to the “Session 1 Gospel”, click on it and enjoy!
https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/resources/the-romans-course/small-group-resources-preview
Everyone is welcome to join us for any/all of the lent sessions – it’s a brilliant course – please do join us if you can: Wednesdays 7.30-9pm in Awbridge Village Hall Committee Room and Thursdays 2-3.30pm in Braishfield Church Room.
Worship through music: There’s a wideness in God’s Mercy sung by St Paul’s Cathedral
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDRbBFeXkYk
Jane 🙏
Thursday 13th March
Dear All,
Reading: Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 1: 1-7
Reflection: This week sees the start of our exciting Lent course exploring St Paul’s amazing letter to the Romans. We had a brilliant evening, yesterday, Wednesday and are really looking forward to this afternoon (2-3.30pm) at Braishfield.
We are using Andrew Ollerton’s exploration of Romans, much of which is filmed in Rome. Andrew writes: “From Saint Augustine and Martin Luther to David Suchet, Paul’s letter to the Romans has transformed many lives – the distinguished Hercule Poirot actor became a Christian while reading Romans!
Who knows what will happen as we explore it?
Romans can be challenging. Some verses are hard to understand, and other bits seem controversial in our cultural context. But as we unpack the letter in its original setting, we will see the relevance of the overall message for today. Every great adventure has challenging moments Romans may be the Mount Everest of the Bible, but the view will be worth it!
Paul’s greetings at the end of the letter (Romans 16) describe a close-knit and diverse community of Christians. They met in several house churches in ancient Rome. Paul wants to unite Jewish and Gentile Christians around the gospel so they can play their part in God’s mission.
How close is that to a picture of our church? What could each of us do to make us closer-knit and more united in our faith?
Worship through music: We Have a Gospel to Proclaim written (1968) by Edward J. Burns The tune is 'Germany' written around 1815 by William Gardiner. Sung here by the Huddersfield Choral Society. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5wWRYq57EM
God bless,
Jane 🙏
Wednesday 5th March
Dear All,
Reading: Today’s gospel reading is taken from Luke 9:22-25:
And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?
Worship through music:
At this time, we continue to pray with the Ukrainian church: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=641BOXUNufw
(More orthodox from 2:15) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrXISoPuCGg
The Kiev Chamber Choir Bless the Lord, O My Soul https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY53exSuZhE
Reflection: Last week, Southwark Cathedral were privileged to host, briefly, an exhibition of icons by Ukrainian artists – “drawn” (for icons are “drawn”, not painted) on ammunition boxes. As we start Lent, as Ukraine enters its third year of war since the by Russian invasion and as this coming Sunday is also the day of reflection for those who lost their lives during Covid, no words just the opportunity, should we choose, to pause and reflect…
God bless,
Jane 🙏
