Brunswick Church Manchester
Brunswick Parish Church
  • Home
  • About us
  • Coronavirus
  • Sunday Services
  • Prayer & Fellowship
  • Contact & Location
  • Positive Steps
    • Positive Steps Online
  • Midweek Musings
  • Calendar
  • News & Events
  • Refurb
    • Refurb Support
    • Phase One
    • Refurb Launch
  • new to Manchester?
  • Gallery

Don’t sweat the small stuff?

20/1/2021

 
Picture
Dear Friends

I was listening to the radio in shock yesterday as they discussed the lockdown experienced by tennis players and their partners who were required to be in lockdown in some rather nice hotels for a couple of weeks before they were allowed to then compete. The partner of player Bernard Tomic, was putting out on social media, how awful the experience was, now having to wash her own hair(!) as she was not allowed to go out to the salon, where it would usually be washed two to three times a week!! If ever there was an illustration of “First World privilege” folk getting used to a way life that their status or wealth enables, which they mistakenly believe is a right – surely this is it.

Not that I am much better (although hair washing isn’t a big issue to me!), for I confess to having been a bit grumpy at first when as a result of the latest Covid lockdown, my weekly exercise routine was interrupted by the closure of the gym where I serve as chaplain to the YMCA. Rather than focus on what I still could do (and do you know how many local parks we are blessed with, which still enable all sorts of activity?), I fixated for a while on all that which I couldn’t. 

Understandably though, as we trudge through this hard enforced lockdown, with the many restrictions that have been imposed, and where choices are limited, it’s easy to fixate on the areas of life where we still have control. Again, I am aware that I perhaps spend more energy currently on smaller issues, mainly because they are the only ones that I can address. Whereas previously I would proffer the advise: "don’t sweat the small stuff” to others – encouraging folk to keep a sense of perspective; appreciating what really is important in life, I recognise that the "small stuff” might be all that we might feel we have control of at the moment. Nevertheless, there still is the need to keep perspective, otherwise we could might find ourselves fixating on whatever is our equivalent  ‘hairwashgate’. Instead, even or perhaps especially in these times, the words of Jesus “do not worry” still apply, with his endorsement that his father (and ours) knows and provides all that we need. Indeed, we have received a timely and amazing reminder of the faithfulness of God our provider in the most recent grant that we have received for Refurb.  

Finally, if ever someone has a sense of perspective appreciating what is important and what is not, then it must be US president elect Joe Biden. Having endured personal family tragedy, experienced a new found faith, and witnessed first hand both what can be achieved as well as jeopardised by political actions, he is well prepared to sweat both the big and small stuff as he takes on the reins of power today. Do please pray for that nation on his inauguration as president today.

Keep safe
Keep in touch
Keep the faith.

Simon

Freedom

13/1/2021

 
Hi Everyone,

Do you ever have a week where there seems to be a bit of a running theme? The theme of my week seems to be freedom. I started the week by having a conversation with someone who was upset by the lockdown and was upset by how it was affecting their freedom. Then there was the big news story that Donald Trump had been banned from Twitter. This caused many people to ask huge ethical questions about freedom of speech. Then the youngest member of our household told us that they had been discussing whether humans or animals have more freedom in their philosophy lesson (yes I was surprised to learn that they now study philosophy in Primary school!).

All of this talk of freedom got me thinking about what it means to be free. After all, freedom is a huge part of the gospel message:
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." Galatians 5:1

Freedom is an interesting concept because we often equate it with being able to do whatever we want. The problem is that it is this kind of thinking is that often brings out the worst in us. Often we use the freedom argument for our most selfish actions. We argue for freedom of speech when the words we want to use would be harmful to someone else and we argue that our liberties are being stolen from us when we are being asked to change our behaviour to consider others. 

The freedom described in the Bible seems to be a bit different. Christian freedom isn't about being allowed to do whatever we want, in fact, we are actively told not to abuse our freedom and to use our freedom for good. Instead, freedom in the Bible is all about freedom from specific religious rituals which people were having to perform to be able to be close to God. We don't need to do any of that any more. God is not stuck in a specific building and he doesn't need any set prayers, rituals or songs for us to access him (even if some of us find those things helpful). We can have access to God whenever and wherever. That's good news for all of us, particularly during the lockdown.

So, take courage, we may have to distance from each other but God is not distanced from us. 

With love

Jess

New Year Yearnings

6/1/2021

 
Picture
Dear Friends

“Happy New Year!”

When, I wonder, is it deemed too late in January to still wish one another a happy new year? A quick dip into Google (other search engines are available) came up with an answer offered up by 'party and wedding etiquette expert' Lisa Forde (a questionable qualification if you ask me but never mind..).’As reported in the Metro, it offered up the following;

Wishing someone Happy New Year or Merry Christmas can be a positive greeting but it does have a say by date. ‘Wishing someone Happy New Year after a week into January can be unwanted and insincere.’ And, in fact, Lisa argues that the well intended greeting could even have a negative effect on the person you are saying it to. ‘People want to settle into the new year as quickly as possible without being reminded that it is a new year, or that new year’s celebrations and Christmas are over. ‘This can be depressing, and can often feel they happened months ago, and being reminded won’t be appreciated.

So there you have it, except I disagree! This year particularly, perhaps as a recognition of the challenging time that 2020 was to so many, I will continue to wish, hope, and pray for a “Happy new year” for all I encounter, right through the year of 2021. Because of course we are still carrying other much more significant ‘when’ questions with us, which still require a happy resolution:
  • when can I hug loved ones again?
  • when can I travel?
  • when can we meet up and be reunited?
  • when will the vaccine be offered to me?
  • when can I find work again?
  • when will church be warm again?

These new year yearnings are felt all the more keenly, as the latest lockdown we now encounter considerably adds to the cold damp gloom of short winter days and long frozen nights. But just as "a dog isn’t just for Christmas”, neither are the bible verses that traditionally accompany our festive services, and I know many hold on in faith and hope to the familiar verse in John that declares; “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overwhelmed it". 

So we face another lock down. Encouragingly this time, (mainly through the dedicated work of Sarah, Bishop of London, petitioning and informing the corridors of power that gathered religious worship is for some as essential as access to supermarkets for food) churches are allowed to remain open for safely conducted services on Sunday morning. Certainly, if our church heating was fully working, this would be my intention, augmented by access through Zoom which has served us so well. However, as was our experience last Sunday in our all age service, which enabled sharing and participation over the internet, any services that aren’t communion services, will take place solely on Zoom for the meantime. Communion services, on the second and fourth Sunday (the next one is this coming Sunday) will still be held in church, enabling those who wish to attend and receive in person, to do so. Zoom access will of course also be available to those who can’t.  

So Happy New Year everyone! And may we continue to trust in the Lord, our light and salvation. 
 
Keep safe
Keep in touch
Keep the faith.

Simon

Midweek Musings

1/1/2021

 
After several months of 3Ps – Pause, Ponder and Pray, a daily reflection for at home during the Coronavirus lockdown – we have now reverted to Midweek Musings. This will be posted here, but you can also ask here to have it by email. Additionally, we have started a daily prayer text message. To receive this please send your number. 

He walked where we walk

24/12/2020

 
Dear Friends 

Last Sunday morning, I shared the following image, in the hope of grounding the Christmas story, and taking us away from the Disneyfied shiny version. In truth, through Jesus, God has indeed walked where I (and you) walked. 

I trust you will be aware of Him walking alongside you throughout this (stranger than usual) festive period, and hope to see some of you both later on this afternoon for our outdoor Christmas Eve carol service (4.30pm), and tomorrow on Christmas Day (10.45am). 

Keep safe
Keep in touch
Keep the faith.
Simon
Picture
<<Previous

    Midweek Musings

    A weekly reflection.

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    3Ps
    Jess
    Simon

Home
Coronavirus
About Us
Sunday Services
​Christmas 2020
Prayer & Fellowship
​Positive Steps
​new to Manchester?
Contact & Location
Building Hire
Calendar
News & Events
Midweek Musings
Refurb
Gallery
PCC
AGM 2020
​Safeguarding
Photo policy
​
Equality Statement
​Privacy Statement
© 2020 Christ Church Brunswick.
Proudly powered by Weebly