Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 17th May - The Seventh Sunday of Easter - and for the week ahead:Scripture: 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ 7 He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ 9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’ (Book of Acts 1.6-11)ReflectionChristians the world over have just celebrated Ascension Day. This is the day when we remember Jesus’ last moments on Earth and the way He left his followers; not dying as all ordinary folk do, but being lifted up and disappearing beyond a cloud. Does this sound like a crazy tale, maybe a case of wishful thinking or hallucination? It is so long ago, we cannot verify exactly what the disciples saw, or experienced. But one thing is sure, their experiences transformed them. They were no longer frightened or bewildered, but became confident and brave, daring to stand up and tell people about Jesus. That confidence, to stand up for what we be believe is right and true, even in the face of opposition, is one of the many gifts that the Holy Spirit brings at Pentecost, which we will celebrate on Sunday (24th of May). Please come and join us! Revd Ylva
Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 10th May - The Sixth Sunday of Easter - and for the week ahead:Scripture: The Collect for The Ascension (Thursday 14th May)'Grant, we pray, almighty God, that as we believe your only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens, so we in heart and mind may also ascend and with him continually dwell; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.'ReflectionThis week marks The Ascension. It is – or it should be – a significant day for us as Christians. We mark and celebrate Christmas – the coming of Jesus into the world – in a huge way. The Ascension is Jesus leaving this world; him ascending back to his father in heaven….yet it goes largely unnoticed. It should, perhaps, be a sad day – Jesus leaving earth, not to be seen (physically) again. But Jesus promised those who believe “another Advocate”; the Spirit of truth to be with us forever. (Read some of John Chp14: “You will know him because he abides with you, and he will be in you.” That is how close God wants to be to you.The Collect (the special prayer) for Ascension, captures that our hearts and our minds “may also ascend”; that is, that we might think (or dwell) on higher things; that we might think of God….in order that we might continually dwell with Him. God wishes an every-day and an eternal relationship with you. So pray for that.Revd David
Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 3rd May - The Fifth Sunday of Easter - and for the week ahead:Scripture: First Letter of Peter, verses 4 and 5'Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious In God’s sight. Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.'Reflection:You have only to look at our own parish churches of St George and St Nicholas to see that like most ancient churches they are not built of identical, factory-made bricks, set in neat, regular rows, but are constructed from assorted chunks of natural stone. Some of the stones are large, others are quite small, all shapes and sizes, but the skillful stone masons have fitted them together into solid structures that have lasted for centuries.St Peter calls his readers to become ‘like living stones’. We are all different, all shapes and sizes, varying in character and appearance, background and gifts. Some fit in easily, others are more awkward. But God, the Master Builder, finds a place for every ‘stone’, large, small, rugged or smooth, as he builds us into a community in which each of us has an essential part. Revd Rosemary
Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 19th April - The Third Sunday of Easter - and for the week ahead:Scripture:'While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, ‘What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?’ They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, ‘Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?’ He asked them, ‘What things?’' (Luke 24:15-19) Reflection:In this story, news of Jesus’ resurrection has spread, but not everyone has seen him for themselves, and so are struggling to believe. Here, Jesus joins some of his followers as they walk, and explains everything to them before they actually believe what’s happened. I wonder how we would answer the question that Jesus poses here, “what things?”. How would we describe what happened to Jesus? Maybe we would be better to share what impact He has had on our lives by being a part of it. If you were asked “what things has Jesus done for you?” or “what things are made better by Jesus being part of your life?” how would you answer this week? Victoria Bray
