3rd Sunday of Epiphany - 24th January 2021Readings: Genesis 14:17-20; Psalm 128; Revelation 19: 6-10; John 2:1-11LET US PRAY: May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight, Lord our strength and our redeemer. Amen.A Word from Barbara: I would like us to take a moment and just think about what we have heard about how people are helping each other in the climate we live in at this time, the things we have seen or heard.Things I have heard about and seen:• a service offering home deliveries and dog-walking.• A milkman delivering more than just milk on his rounds to help those self-isolating.• People sending pictures and positive messages• There are those who are vulnerable and are unable to go out to help others so they help via phone calls or a text.• There are those who are committed to praying for those in need and those helping.Sometimes we can forget the good which is happening around us and even on our doorsteps. I think it is great how in our world as it is people are still reaching out and helping others in whatever way they can safely, whether it is with something small or something large, we are still continuing to find safe ways to help. Whether it is a doorstep delivery, a phone call, a card, a wave outside the window, a text message. When bad things occur in our world it is a shame that they tend to be exposed and remembered more than the good which is taking place. We can forget how beautiful our world is, and how helpful people can be.In our Gospel reading today, Jesus and his mother attended a wedding celebration. Now there are many thoughts, debates and views around this reading, about the wedding of Cana. For example, some focus on the way Jesus addresses his mother (woman), verse 4 or the way Jesus answers his mother (verse 4), some would see it as disrespectful.However, what is seen here from my perspective is back to basics. We have a newly married couple who along with family and friends are celebrating a very important part of their lives, a commitment they have made to each other. (Apparently they celebrate for seven days). Then an issue occurs the wine is finished Jesus’ mother tells Jesus what has happened and it sounds as if she is expecting him to do something about it. Jesus does, the water is turned into wine. Jesus has done what Jesus does! Jesus helped.This was Jesus’ first miracle/sign, in fact Jesus performed many miracles and this miracle compared to some of the other ones may be considered trivial or even unnecessary. For example, healing the blind man (John 9:1-7), healing the leper (Matthew 8:1-4), raising the dead (Mark 5:37-43) and many more. In comparison water to wine may not hold the same value as other miracles for some. We need to be careful not to judge such things in this way for our needs are not all the same. But what is also happening in these miracles/signs is Jesus is helping, helping people and by so doing setting an example to others, to us. Jesus was and is meeting people where they are in their time of need. Jesus had the ability to help whether it was water to wine or raising the dead.We too are equipped and are still being equipped to work alone or together to do our part in looking after each other. We all have different roles in life, and when we spend time in God’s presence we are guided to know what we are to do, how we can help, whether it is to pray or make a phone call, say good morning and acknowledge someone, or smile. God loves us and wants us to be safe, wants us to look after each other so we can make this world a better place. We have different gifts, we have different ideas, we can come together and share these gifts and ideas to help others, to show love. What is important is to remember is, we believe in a God of love. Jesus came and taught his disciples about love, about looking after others John 13:34-35 “a new commandment I give you: that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”1 John 4:16 So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.Amen.
2nd Sunday of Epiphany - 17th January 2021Readings: 1 Samuel 3v1-10; Psalm 139v1-9; Revelation 5v1-10; John 1v43-endLet us pray: May the words of my mouth and thoughts and meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in thy sight O lord, our strength and our redeemer. AmenA word from Lucy: The old testament readings about the child Samuel ministering to the LORD in the temple under the guidance of Eli, feels like challenges and warnings to me as minister of the Church. The first challenge is that in the early days of Temple worship, children were involved in ministry. This warns me to accept and support the children that God calls into His service as ministers. The second challenge is to be mindful that it is not enough to teach children to read their Bibles, say their prayers and join in worship. They warning to me is to teach everyone that God may present himself to us at any time. The third challenge is to remember that God does many and varied things in each generation and people need to be told this. The warning is that, even if it seems that God has been silent for years, God can speak to us at any time and we need to recognise this when it happens. The final challenge is to prepare people to respond positively when God calls us by name so that we are able to reply: ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ As a minister I believe that God calls each one of us by name for the psalm teaches that God searches us out and when he does there will be no hiding place because God can go anywhere and everywhere. I also believe what the psalm says about God knowing us inside and out, with all our possibility. The reading from the Book of Revelation tells us that the lamb gave his life for us so that we can be made into a Kingdom of priests serving God. By his death, the Lamb also opened for us the gates of heaven. An amazing place full of angels and heavenly creatures singing songs and playing music. A place where God’s throne can be found where the Lamb of God, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David is worshipped and thanked for liberating God’s people from every tribe and language and people and nation. So we must be ready when he meets us face to face and calls us, just as Jesus called his disciples in the gospel. For I believe that if we respond to the call of God to ‘Follow me’ and like the disciples not only follow but also tell others to ‘Come and see’ that like the disciples we shall also see: “ …. heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’Let us pray<span style="font-size: 1rem;">. Heavenly Father, open our hearts and minds to hear your call then send us out into the world that all the world may be saved, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.</span>
Lucy leads us in prayer at <a href="https://youtu.be/sdsyoeWqNcQ">https://youtu.be/sdsyoeWqNcQ</a>
1st Sunday of Epiphany - 10th January 2021Readings: Genesis 1v1-5; Psalm 29; Acts 19; Mark 1v4-11Let us pray: May the words of my mouth and thoughts and meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in thy sight O lord, our strength and our redeemer. AmenA word from Lucy: The old testament lesson from the Book of Genesis reminds us that God created the heavens and the earth, called light into being then separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day and the darkness Night creating evening and morning, the first day, the beginning of time as we know it. The psalm is a reminder of all the ways since the beginning of time that we have seen that the word of God is powerful and wondrous. The psalm calls us to worship the Lord our God whose voice is so powerful and who is enthroned as King for ever. The psalm ends with a prayer asking the LORD to give strength to his people and to bless his people with peace! The Gospel tells us that John proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins as well as teaching the many people who came for baptism that: ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’ John saw the inauguration of the ministry of the one who was to follow him when Jesus was baptised. For as Jesus came up out of the water, John and Jesus saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove before hearing a voice from heaven, declaring to Jesus, that: ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’ So, what is the message I am taking from all this for me today? Our old testament and psalm readings call us to worship and pray to a most awesome and extraordinary God whose word is powerful. Our gospel and new testament readings remind us that God is working out His purposes and that if we have been baptised in the name of Jesus that we have the Holy Spirit at work within us and have been given gifts, just as those in the account today were given gifts of prophecy and speaking in tongues. However, our gifts are just as important as those we heard about today, because, whatever they are, scripture teaches that God provides many and varied gifts with all of them to be used for the benefit of the body of Christ and God’s mission to the world. Which means that you are important to the mission of God because He gave you gifts to use in His mission.Let us pray. Heavenly Father, at the Jordan you revealed Jesus as your Son: may we recognize him as our Lord and know ourselves to be your beloved children; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.