Dear Friends

For a lot of people, the month of January is frustratingly long and seems to drag. However I have to admit that usually for me it’s never long enough! The reason isn’t to be found in me wanting to wallow in the semi-gloom of winter, but instead me having to deal with my own increasing procrastination of the task of filing my tax returns before the month ends. Sadly (and this applies to other family members too), I am a 'late in the day' person, and so it takes a looming deadline and the threat of a fine, to spark me into action. As I try to convince my eldest child who again works to the wire with the essay deadlines she faces, it’s rare that any work that we do at the last minute is going to be particularly productive.

Thankfully then she wasn’t in attendance at church last Sunday when it could be claimed that the message found within the latest parable we studied providing with glimpses of “the kingdom” that we are called to seek first, went against this worldly wisdom. For in the challenging parable of the workers in the vineyard that Jesus told, we hear how those recruited late in the day, and working fewer hours than their fellow labourers, were still generously rewarded with a full day’s pay. Indeed in a service where we had two readings for the price of one(!), this amazing picture of a generous God was added to in our children’s reading, where the generous actions of the father of the prodigal son were celebrated too.

I have to say, that personally, the complex family dynamics and relationships found within the parable of the prodigal son, have always remained a fascination and challenge. One of my favourite books which explores this further (as well as holding a mirror to that which motivates ourselves) is “The Return of The Prodigal", by Henri Nouwen. As we continue through the year unravelling our motto “…first,  the Kingdom”,  I believe the themes found within the book shed much light on the heart of God, and his kingdom hopes for us all. As such, and as an advanced (rather ‘late in the day!”) notice from myself, as a part of Lent this year, please consider both reading this book (I have got hold of a number of 2nd hand copies, or can order you a new one), and joining our Lent group which will meet on a Monday evening (starting 2nd March), where we will share and discuss our findings together.

God Bless

Simon

Hi Everyone,

I have to confess I’m a bit of a telly addict. One of my favourite programs at the moment is The Repair Shop. This is a programme all about restoring family treasures that people just can’t part with despite them being broken. I was catching up on an episode yesterday where a rocking horse was being restored. This horse had been well used and loved by generations of children in this family but was now falling to pieces. It wasn’t an easy repair, the damage ran deep into the structure of the horse and required the expertise of a number of skilled artisans to complete the work. I was struck as I watched it that it may have been simpler and much more cost effective to simply get rid of the rocking horse and replace it with a new one. Yet there was something about this family treasure that meant that it was worth more than it’s material cost.

On Sunday we thought about the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price as part of our series looking at our motto text: First…. The Kingdom. I offered us two pictures of what this parable might mean related to the idea of value. In the first picture we looked at us being the merchant in search of fine pearls; the greatest of these pearls being Jesus. In amongst lots of good and worthy things that we might pursue (and perhaps some less worthy things) Jesus is ultimately worth seeking after because in him we find life, meaning and hope.

The second picture we looked at was the idea of Jesus being the merchant and us being the pearl of great price. Jesus is the one who gives up everything in order to pursue the people he created and loves because somehow, despite all of the ways we have been damaged and how deep that damage runs, Jesus declares that we are worth it. Both of these pictures show two halves of one of the eternal truths of the kingdom that as we are in pursuit of God, he is also in pursuit of us. He is the God who runs to find us and the God who allows himself to be found. 

Whatever you are doing this week, have a great week. I hope to see you on Sunday, if not before, when we will be continuing to think about the Kingdom of God together.

With Love

Jess

Dear Friends

One of my anticipated visits tomorrow, will be to see David, my spiritual director. Admittedly, “spiritual director” is a strange term, but basically David is someone who I have the opportunity to talk to in relation to my own journey with, and service of, God. Over the course of the hour, regardless of whether in the situations I share with I’m up or down, joyous or feeling sorry for myself, optimistic or pessimistic, David has an unerring knack of always bringing it back to God, with prompts such as “how do you think God sees you (or) it?”. Certainly it helps to switch the focus, moving away from my wobbles and inconsistency, and placing myself in the consistent and loving presence of God.

This year as individuals, a church community and indeed as a planet, we face a number of uncertainties which understandably might bring about a wobble or two. How better then, to have our new motto text: “FIRST,... the kingdom” - taken from Jesus’ teaching as conveyed by Matthew’s gospel. Here,  potential followers then and now are encouraged to seek first the Kingdom of God – engaging with, and appreciating God’s way of seeing things, and then look  to act in line with His priorities. I encourage us all to engage in this “seeking”, not least in the next couple of months as we spend time in church exploring some of the encouraging and challenging teaching of Jesus which sought to further expound aspects of the amazing kingdom of God.

God Bless

Simon 

Hi Everyone,

The decorations are down and the Christmas tree is looking a little sad outside by the green wheelie bin waiting to be collected. I normally quite like taking the decorations down. Suddenly we have all this space and it feels like possibilities are opened up. The thing I don’t like packing away is Jesus. 

When our Christmas decorations go up, an empty basket is place beneath the Christmas tree to represent the manger. It helps to remind me through the busyness of Advent who we are preparing for. On Christmas morning, a doll representing Jesus is placed in the manger and he stays there all through Christmas. For me it is a really special moment but I suspect it is largely ignored by the rest of the family as another one of my eccentricities. 

Usually the weekend before the children go back to school, the decorations come down and Jesus and manger are unceremoniously bundled into a bag and put on a shelf in the garage until next year. It is a moment that is counterintuitive but necessary - Jesus doesn’t stay as a baby in a manger and he is more than a cosy Christmas tradition.

On Sunday, we celebrated Epiphany: the visit of the wise men to Jesus. Simon reminded us that when the wise men visited, Jesus was no longer a baby in a manger but was more likely a toddler by then and certainly no longer sleeping in an animal trough. When all the drama of his birth had died down and the angels song had faded, the wise men crept in to worship Jesus bringing gifts fit for a king. For me there is something quite significant in that. 

It is often easy to worship Jesus in the middle of a big festival with all the decorations, traditions and special events. In someways, it is much harder to worship Jesus in the midst of normal life; away from the excitement, when we’re back to the routine and the mundane. Yet there is something in the persistence of the wise men that calls us to continue to pursue Jesus and to worship him. 

On Sunday we’re going to be revealing our new motto for the 2020 that will help us to focus our thoughts as we continue to worship Jesus. I hope you can join us.

With Love

Jess