LETTER FROM REVD LOUISE

Dear Friends,

This morning, I was at a local school taking a Bible story assembly. (Yes, we are allowed to talk about Jesus and the Bible in schools!) I shared with the children the story of the Lost Sheep, a story or parable, we have recently reflected on in our Sunday morning services.

We thought about times we have got lost. We agreed it is a horrible feeling: confusing, bewildering and we feel stupid for getting ourselves in that predicament. We thought about how we get lost in our lives. Sometimes we deliberately choose to go in the wrong direction. At other times we get lost because we aren’t paying attention to what we are doing. And other times we think we are taking the right path and then realise we have made a huge mistake. When Jesus told this story he was trying to explain to the local religious leaders why he was happy to spend time with people who had got lost. People who didn’t follow the religious laws of the day; people who had hurt others, made poor life choices, made mistakes, messed up relationships. He understood and wanted to help them find their way again.

Perhaps you have had times in your life when you have got lost? Perhaps you have times when you drift off from God? Perhaps you feel lost and bewildered. You’re not sure how you got to where you are but right now, life is puzzling and a bit scary.

Irrespective of how we got lost, we wonder how to find our way back. We wonder if God will welcome us back. We wonder if other Christians will welcome us back. We wonder if we will ever come home.

Jesus’ story is very clear. The lost sheep is brought back by a patient and determined shepherd. The return of the sheep is celebrated with a great party. The neighbours are invited to join in with the celebrations. It seems that what God longs for each of us is to be reunited with him and his community. To be restored, forgiven, loved, renewed. Irrespective of why we wandered off God has not lost us or forgotten us and he longs to bring us home.

If you have lapsed from following Jesus, why not make this the month you start again? Everyone is welcome to our services. If you are very unsure, maybe just come and spend some time in St Andrew’s: it’s open every day.

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Or attend Be Still, our short, gentle service every Thursday?

Or any of our other activities. Don’t put it off: you are welcome!

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

One day when many tax collectors and other outcasts came to listen to Jesus, the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law started grumbling. ‘This man welcomes outcasts and even eats with them.’

So Jesus told them this parable: Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them -what does he do? He leaves the other ninety-nine sheep in the field and goes looking for the one that got lost until he finds it. When he finds it, he is so happy that he puts it on his shoulders and carries it back home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says to them, ‘I am so happy I found my lost sheep. Let us celebrate!’ In the same way I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine respectable people who do not need to repent. (Luke 15.1-7)

Will you let Jesus find you and bring you home?

God bless you,

Louise.x