Dear Friends

This week I was challenged about the meaning of word I used when describing the Ash Wednesday service which will be taking place in church next Wednesday lunchtime at 12.30 p.m. Traditionally the service is described as including “the imposition of ashes” which is the marking of ash (created by last year’s burned palm crosses) on the forehead of each participant. Now for those of us of a certain generation and schooling, an 'imposition' was usually a minor punishment, an inconvenience, that would be dished out to those who misbehaved, the issuing of perhaps, 500 lines, a detention or in my worst case a Saturday morning, when a menial task such as clearing the grounds would have to be carried out under the supervision of the school 'sergeant'. "Is this really the impression of church we would want to convey?", came the question. Well, (in true Anglican fashion) I would want to reply "Well, yes and no”!

The imposition of ashes usually comes with the following words: "Remember that you are from dust, and to dust you shall return – turn away from sin and be faithful”

A reminder of our mortality is quite a heavy charge to receive – I have felt in the past particularly uncomfortable when marking out younger people and using these words. However, from time to time I believe that is good for us to be challenged (inconvenient though it might be at the time) as to how we live and indeed regard our lives. I for one have sometimes been guilty of wishing away days, weeks, or even months, feeling unable to wait for the next day off, treat or holiday that I have planned. It was only recently however when someone broke down an average life span into weeks (4000 if we’re lucky!), that I began to embrace each week as a gift, embracing both its possibilities and challenges, rather than see it as something I simply had to get through. Life is for living, as proclaimed with the slight change of text that we have adopted here at Brunswick.  
"Remember that you are from dust, and to dust you shall return - turn away from sin and embrace the life in all its fulness that God has for you!” 

In our run up to, and living through Lent, may we all live with the inconvenience of accepting that we are all born to die, but recognise and appreciate the riches of life in its fulness that we can experience in the meantime! 

Keep safe
Keep in touch
Keep the faith.
​
Simon

Good morning everyone

I was playing a Red Light Green Light game, (I’m sure you know that game) with my boys, it was fun, but I did not win the game. They both were explaining to me that when it shows a red light you need to stop and don’t move, if you follow this, you will win, it is very easy mummy.  I stopped there and started thinking that they were right. This is a very simple rule to win, If I just follow the commands.

Friends, I was also thinking how we behave or follow the command when God gives us a red light and a green light and how do we recognise those lights in our everyday life? All we need to do is just follow the instructions, and to realise where these instructions are and recognise the voice, and signs of the commander/Lord. When God gives us a red light, He is asking us to stop what we are doing, be still and know that I am the Lord your God, be sensitive to it. And when God overrules our plans to implement His own plans in our lives, just say, Amen! (It’s not easy, trust me I know but it’s not impossible).

God says in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. Because he wants us to win this life’s game and He is on our side, working for our behalf so we can have a successful life.

The Psalmist says in Psalm 32:8: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;  I will counsel you with my loving eye on you”.

May God continue to lead us to a place of peace, stillness, prosperity, and happiness. May we get time for stillness in our lives and reflect when God shows us red light in Jesus’ mighty name I pray. Amen.
​
with lots of love and blessings. 

Rev Kathreen Shahbaz

Dear Friends

I am steadily working through one the newer resolutions that I set myself, namely attempting to listen afresh to at least one album from my extensive (and for the most part forgotten and unappreciated) record collection. It was mainly bought in the late 70’s and throughout the 80’s, augmented by my brother's collection which he passed on to me when he moved to the US in 1988. After that, for nearly 30 years, CDs and then digital downloads were the only forms of music that I bought, but the lure of vinyl has come slowly back!

​I’ve found it interesting how my tastes and preferences have changed over time. Whilst some former favourites seem a bit tired, other speculative buys from the past which after an initial hearing were consigned to the back of the box (not literally of course as my personality type demands that they are all stored alphabetically!), have on second listening become quite special. I find that I appreciate more, some music which initially was a bit more taxing, and not immediately satisfying. Safe to say there have been a number of pleasant surprises and welcome re-discoveries, and I anticipate that they will continue throughout the rest of the year.

Such is the case then for musical surprises, but I also find them coming anew when reading afresh God’s word; the bible. It’s good to break away from simply our favourite texts or our purple passages and be exposed to the whole bible (including the passages that are a bit more taxing). Another common resolution of mine is to read through systematically, (or usually chronologically) the whole Bible. Again I am struck by how some of the more complex writing (that I might have shied away from in my youth), holds within it, some of the deeper truths of God, which may prove more durable in the long run.

Indeed, over the next three Sundays, after studying the early days of Jesus as conveyed by Luke in his gospel, we’re going to switch across to the gospel of John, following in depth some of the Jesus accounts found there. I hope and pray that we might be open to the surprises and re-discoveries we will make along the way! In the meantime;

Keep safe
Keep in touch
Keep the faith.

Simon

Dear friends, 

I was thinking how we can take care for our body, mind, and soul, as I always put myself behind others. However, after having two sermons over body, mind, and soul, I think that most of the time we think that oh, we cannot help what our mind will think, heart will feel, or our soul will follow? But we are wrong to think in this way that we cannot control our body, heart, and mind. The mind is governed by the Spirit, life and peace. You either give your mind over to the control of the world, external influences, and circumstances, or you give it over to the control of the Holy Spirit.

What would a life like that look like? Well, imagine not being so fearful anymore, just moving on and giving everything into God’s hand. Imagine facing financial difficulties, rejection, and obstacles without giving in to discouragement. Imagine acknowledging the mistakes you’ve made in the past but moving confidently into the future. Most of the time we are stuck, or I would think that Satan put this in our hearts and tried to give us that low esteem, low mood, and the spirit of fear and timidity. Which looks like you are still making mistakes.
But the Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”

If I give attention to this thought, then I am going to give my mind control over me and my body. Instead of letting my mind control me I give my mind to the Holy Spirit.
I believe that no one is perfect and we in this body can never be perfect therefore, dear friends don’t let Satan steal your joy and rebuke Satan and be happy with your healthy mind, body and spirit and love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.
May God set you free from the spirit of restlessness and strive; in Jesus’ mighty name I pray! God bless you.
​
With lots of love and blessings. 

Rev Kathreen Shahbaz