“The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.”” Jeremiah 23:5-6This is an amazing scripture, filled with hope and optimism.Can you imagine a place where those in power deal wisely, executive justice and live righteously? Where people live in safety? It is a place where us as Christians aspire to live. It is a position we aspire to hold. It is an environment where we all live together in harmony and mutual respect. This can only happen when we acknowledge Christ as King. We can look to others to make life better, but this is all our responsibility. We can start by loving our neighbours and those who are around us and always having kind words to say to each other.Rev Jassica
We began November by celebrating All Saints and remembering those we love but see no longer at our All Souls service. Last Sunday we remembered those who have died in conflict on Remembrance Sunday. Continuing this theme of remembrance and reflection we come, this week, to Safeguarding Sunday which is a moment in the Church’s calendar to reflect and recommit ourselves to making our churches safe places for all; to reflect on our safeguarding journey, and highlight all the good work that is being done to create safer places. Defending the rights of vulnerable people is integral to Christian faith and teaching.Sadly, the church hasn’t always done this well. But, in recent years, huge progress has been made in taking responsibility for safeguarding in church and protecting the most vulnerable. Creating a safe church is not just one person’s responsibility but it falls upon all of us to be attentive to our surroundings and speak out when necessary in order to love and serve one another.Rev Liz
A part of the Remembrance Sunday service we will use in St George’s Park is titled “Act of Commitment & Hope”. Hope can feel like a fragile thing these days. We look around and see headlines filled with conflict, hardship, and uncertainty. Yet as Christians, we are called to be people of hope. This is not because we can see how everything will work out, but because we trust in God who holds the future.Christian hope isn’t wishful thinking or blind optimism. It is the deep conviction that God is faithful and that even in the darkest moments, new life is possible. The cross was not the end of the story, and neither are the challenges of today’s world.Resurrection hope means believing that God is already at work bringing light out of shadow and purpose out of pain; just as was true in wars and conflicts past.As we look toward the future for our church, our community, and our world; let us pray that we may be renewed in hope. May we become, in word and deed, a people through whom others glimpse the steadfast love and faithfulness of God.Fr Simon
This week we turn our attention to a compelling parable from the Gospel of Luke: the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector, who go to the temple to pray.The Pharisee is a respected religious leader known for strict adherence to the law and boasts about his good deeds and looks down on others. however, the tax collector is often despised for working with the occupying Romans and perceived as a sinner by society, yet humbles himself and simply asks for God's mercy.This passage is a profound lesson on humility, repentance, and the true posture of the heart before almighty God.Rev Jassica
