Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 29th March - Palm Sunday - and for the week ahead:Scripture:Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-9)Reflection:As people celebrated Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, he knew their cheers of “Hosanna” would turn to “Crucify”; he knew what lay ahead of him. Richard Vautrey, a GP, and President of the Royal College of General Practitioners and a former Vice-President of the British Methodist Conference, wrote:‘Patients who know they are going to die often have a very different outlook on life. They make the most of every precious day. Yes, they prepare, and put their affairs in order, but many also compile bucket lists of exciting and challenging things to do while they have the strength and energy to do them. They do things they never thought themselves capable of.’ (Methodist Recorder 20 June, 2014). Jesus continued teaching, healing and helping others. I wonder whether we are making the most of the time we have, however young or old, well or ill we are? How might we celebrate with our friends? How might we teach or heal, inspire or help others – or pray - in whatever time we have?Revd David
Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 22nd March - The Fifth Sunday of Lent - and for the week ahead:Scripture: John11.38-44 - Jesus Raises Lazarus From the DeadJesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said.“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odour, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”So they took away the stone…Then Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”Reflection:In John’s Gospel Jesus’s miracles are described as ‘signs’. They are like signposts, pointing to Jesus as the divine Son of God, with power and authority over nature and death itself. Yet some of those who actually witness Lazarus emerging from the tomb are so outraged at Jesus not conducting himself according to their rules and their authority that they make up their minds to have him killed. It was bad enough that he healed the sick and restored sight to the blind, but now he is actually raising the dead to life.This cannot be allowed! He must be stopped, once and for all.They did indeed kill him. But as we know, that was not the end. Far from it. Lord, save us from obstinacy and hardness of heart. Give us faith and humility, and open our eyes and hearts to receive your blessings which are ‘more than we can either imagine or desire’.Revd Rosemary Kobus van Wengen
Scripture - Collect for Mothering SundayGod of compassion, whose Son Jesus Christ, the child of Mary, shared the life of a home in Nazareth, and on the cross drew the whole human family to himself: strengthen us in our daily living that in joy and in sorrow we may know the power of your presence to bind together and to heal.ReflectionOn this Mothering Sunday, we are reminded through the words of the Collect that we are all joined together as one human family, called to live in peace and harmony with one another.Mothering is a quality that we are all capable of, regardless of gender. We are each called to share the love of Jesus Christ—love that he gave freely for us on the cross—with those around us.While we may not be able to change everything that is happening in the wider world, we can make a difference in our own corner of it. Showing compassion and care for those around us, both within our families and in the wider community, is one way of “mothering” the people in our lives.Sometimes this takes courage. Jesus showed that courage through the way he gave his life so that we might experience eternal life. May we be inspired by his example to share love, kindness, and compassion with all those we meet.Lyn Hayes ALM
Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 8th March and for the week ahead: Scripture: 'And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.' (Romans 5:3-5)ReflectionThese are some of my favourite Bible verses, but they do read a little sharply in light of current events taking place around the world. Paul, the writer of these words, talks about “boasting in [our] suffering”. Different translations use the words “glory”, “rejoice” and “shout our praise” to describe the attitude to suffering. I don’t think anyone feels like doing that, whether the suffering is seen as big or small, because it’s all relative to us in that moment. The comfort comes in the next few words, a product line of improvements made between suffering and hope. We may have heard the phrase “character-building” to describe a tough event in our lives and so may feel negatively about the connotations of endurance producing character, but after character comes hope. A hope that never disappoints us, because it comes from God’s love, which will always be there, no matter the depths of our suffering. Take that love and reassurance with you into the week ahead. Victoria Bray
