Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 26th July and for the week ahead:Scripture:Jesus put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’ He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.’ (Matthew 13.31-33)Reflection:It’s quite surprising to hear the Kingdom of Heaven described in such homely, everyday terms. A latecomer to gardening, I’ve never quite got over my amazement at seeing a tiny seed grow into a healthy plant, yielding beautiful blooms or even edible fruit. And I never fail to be astonished that such tiny amounts of yeast can transform a lump of dough, lightening its texture and doubling it in size. In such small, ordinary beginnings, says Jesus, we see the power of God at work. The majority of us are not people of power and influence, and yet in our undramatic everyday lives God can work in us to further his kingdom. Lord, take our lives, our words and our actions, and make them a blessing to others. Revd Rosemary
Reflection: Sunday 19th July - The Seventh Sunday after Trinity - and for the week ahead:Scripture:‘For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans 8. 24 & 25)Reflection:Verse 25 says, “we wait for it with patience.” This doesn't mean sitting around doing nothing. It means choosing to keep trusting God, even when life is hard and we can't yet see what He's doing. The Greek word for "patience" describes staying strong, not giving up, and continuing to follow God through difficult times. As Christians, we don't wait without hope—we wait with confidence because we know God always keeps His promises. Even when we face disappointment, pain, or uncertainty, God gives us the strength to stay faithful and keep moving forward. Every time we choose to trust Him instead of giving up, we're showing that we believe His plan is better than what we can see right now. Our struggles won't last forever. One day, Jesus will make everything new & that future hope gives us strength to keep going today.Lyn Hayes ALM
Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 12th July & for the week ahead: Scripture: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” (Romans 8:1-2)Reflection: These verses are a very efficient summary of what it means to be a Christian. The laws of sin and death would mean that without Christ, we would all go to hell for eternal punishment and see no redemption, but that has now all changed. We will live on after death and be free from sin. But this can be a bit distant for us to imagine, and we may not feel connected to sin as a concept. We may not go around stealing, committing extra marital affairs or murdering people. But can you think of a time when you’ve felt embarrassed, sad, disappointed or cheated out of something, like life isn’t fair. The emotions of the men’s football world cup have certainly displayed as many negative emotions as it has positive ones. But imagine being able to share all of those horrible feelings with God. He understands and tells you that you don’t have to feel that way. He can take the pain and hurt you feel and exchange it for freedom and happiness. Imagine that weight off your mind, that sigh of relief. It’s available to everyone, at any time. We only have to ask, and believe. Victoria Bray
Reflection: Sunday 21st June - The Third Sunday after Trinity - and for the week ahead:Scripture: 'I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do'. (Romans 7.18-19)Reflection: We all know the problems of getting our bodies to conform to our ideals. In this season of sporting competitions we can admire the dedication and concentrated training and self-discipline of the winning athletes. Human mistakes and weaknesses are also on display. St Paul encourages us to focus on our own best intentions and (while accepting how easy and natural it is to do the wrong thing) to keep believing that we are not condemned to fail. Love brings hope.David Harmsworth
