Daily Scripture: "For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death." (2 Corinthians 7 v 10) Daily Reflection: The word "grief" here could also be translated as "pain". What in your life causes you distress or pain, and how do you handle it? When we look at God through the lense of our pain, he may seem small, distant, uncaring and unloving, and our pain looks insurmountable. Paul is telling us in the verse above to look at our pain through the lense of a God who is all-loving, all-caring and all-knowing. Then it is the pain that seems small and distant in the face of our mighty God. The Christian life isn't easy. We aren't promised a bed of roses, free from suffering. We are promised that the God who loves us, walks with us in each moment, never leaving our side, our Rock, our Redeemer and our Comforter. Vicki Young
Here's the link to the recording of yesterday's Sunday service at St Nicholas, 10am Holy Communion: https://youtu.be/E5DVWGRz6Ps<br>
Daily ScriptureAs we work together with him (God) we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. <sup> </sup>For he says,‘At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.’See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! (2 Corinthians 6:1-2)Daily ReflectionSeize the day! That is in effect what the Apostle Paul is telling the congregation that he is writing to. Are we seizing the day? Are we making the most of our time that we have been allotted here on Earth? The England squad certainly did seize their day yesterday, and made the very most of their allotted time! It is eventually all we can do, whether we win in life’s penalty shoot-out, or lose by a whisker; but no one should be able to say of us, when our time comes, that we didn’t try!Salvation is such a big, incomprehensible word. But the truth is, that we are being saved, by being freed from our misconceptions, our hatred for others and ourselves, our need for control, our greed and lovelessness, by God every day. Salvation is not a once in a lifetime event, but something that God is willing to work out in our lives every day, if only we will say ‘Yes’ to him! Revd Ylva
Alternative Collect for today, the 6th Sunday after Trinity:Creator God,you made us all in your image:may we discern you in all that we see,and serve you in all that we do;through Jesus Christ our Lord.Daily Reflection:More than two centuries ago the poet William Blake wrote:‘To see a world in a grain of sand,And a heaven in a wild flower,Hold infinity in the palm of your handAnd eternity in an hour.’It’s in the very nature of the poet and the artist to be acutely aware of the world around them, to ‘discern’ meaning in all that they see and experience. We all inhabit a world full of beauty, mystery and astonishing complexity, but all too often are blinded by familiarity or busyness to the wonder of creation.This simple prayer carries a profound message for all of us. Try making it your own, taking it literally, mindfully, and be prepared to see the world, and yourself, in a new light. Revd Rosemary
