ScriptureSo deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us. (1 Thessalonians 2 v 8) ReflectionA very Happy New Year to you all and I hope that as we journey through this new year that it will prove to be a little better than the last couple of very challenging and different years. Now I don’t know about you but I tend not to make any huge New Year’s resolutions as I am only likely to set myself up for a big fall. However, that does not mean that taking very small steps should not be on the agenda - especially those steps that help me to get closer to God. Sharing of ourselves to others: by a simple phone call to find out if someone is ok, or checking on a neighbour you haven’t seen for a while or just simply saying “Good morning’ with a smile is a good way to start this New Year. Lyn Hayes
Scripture‘Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.’ (Acts 6 - v8) Reflection These days, the Feast of Stephen is more often sung about in the carol Good King Wenceslas than celebrated in church. It has become Boxing Day, with its principal activities of sporting fixtures or shopping!! This is a shame as Stephen has much to offer us. He is chosen as a deacon - someone who is selected to minister to the physical needs of the church members - and he is chosen because of his gifts. He is full of the Spirit - of faith, grace & power. He does signs and wonders and is very wise. He is revealed as an ideal disciple who shares the fate of Christ. Having celebrated the birth of Christ yesterday, we may feel too full for one more mince pie, but we will never feel there is no room for an extra helping of hope. Spiritual feasting is not about having consumed, but about being consumed by the love of God. This is what will make us a disciple as faithful as Stephen. Lyn Hayes
Scripture“I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you…..Worship God!” (Revelation 22, v8-10)ReflectionThe last book of the bible, Revelation, tells us the story of the end of the world as we know it. Time and time again, we read that Jesus will come back again to earth - a day Christians might describe as the “Second Coming”. For John, a simple human man, this ‘revelation’ must have been almost too much to imagine, and so he falls down at the feet of the angel to worship him. The angel - powerful, strong and brilliantly shining as he was - told John in no uncertain terms to stop and look to God, the only One worthy of worship and adoration. As we look forward to the ‘big day’ next weekend, pause for a moment and ask yourself what you are looking forward to the most. Whatever it is - and it may be the best thing you can imagine - nothing and no-one can compare to the great day at the end of all time when Jesus, God’s son, who gave up His life for you returns to gather his flock. There will be no greater celebration among those who know that He is the only one worthy of worship, than on that day.Vicki Young
ScriptureRejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.. (Philippians 4.4-7) ReflectionGiven the grim events that we hear about or read in the news in so many countries of the world, as well as the painful circumstances facing those close to home, it can seem very hard to ask us to ‘rejoice always’. St Paul also wrote ‘rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep’, so he is not asking us to ignore or bury the pain. He is directing us towards Jesus. On the cross the forces of evil failed to break his spirit of love and his trust in the victory of truth and goodness. There we can see the light shining in a darkened world. The innocence of the baby at Christmas brings one sort of rejoicing; the life well lived even to death can bring another. His light shines on in all those who show love to those in need, enables us to tell true religion from false and gives us the hope and faith to see ourselves and the whole world as capable of love – and change.David Harmsworth
