White Horse Team anniversary celebration 13/3/22 The Right Reverend Andrew Rumsey Ephesians 4:1-5; 11-16 NRSV; Matthew 7:24-27 NRSV Read Matt 7:24-26. Now it won’t surprise you to learn that I’ve never built a house. But I suspect the task must feel like a scaled-up version of how I feel when faced by a flat pack from IKEA, which is a kind of limpness in the limbs and a sense of impending doom. This happened recently when I bought a desk for my daughter’s bedroom – or rather I thought I bought a desk, but it turned out I bought a flat pack that comprised an impossible jigsaw of random shapes and myriad unrecognisable screws, bolts, and washers, with a sheet of instructions apparently written by an imbecile. Is there anything quite like the sad, sapping feeling of gazing at a pile like this as you think ‘how on earth am I going to make something of this? How do we build something of the church, so that it not only withstands the storms of life and society, but also becomes a spiritual house that is glorifying to God, in which each member plays their part and finds their place? Several things suggest themselves from our two wonderful readings in scripture, but the first and most important is this: that the building is founded upon the rock which is Christ, the church’s one foundation. The New Testament finds different ways to describe his fundamental place in building the church – indeed in our epistle reading St Paul rather mixes his metaphors, so keen is he to stress the centrality of Christ: read vv14-16 – myriad images! Elsewhere St Peter, who also likens the church a to a building, teaches that we must allow ourselves to be built by Christ, as he were the master craftsman and we his bricks and beams. All of which stresses that before it is a task performed by us, the work of building the church is first of all something that God does in and through us, by his Spirit. That is the building project of the church before all others – the work of perfecting you and me, so that we might fit together, and stay together and support the whole structure. Now this is an admirable but at times seemingly impossible project. We are a mixed load of rubble (not rabble - rubble!) and sometimes we knock each other into shards. It can feel as if the mortar which ought to hold us together is dry and crumbly and simply not up to the task. Like the wonderful and eccentric inside structure of Old Dilton church, we can look at it and say – how on earth does this stay up; how does it even make sense? But the strength of our building rests not first on our own strength, or our deign, but that of our foundation, and this is secure in Christ. When asked whether he felt positive or negative about the future of the church, the great missionary Lesslie Newbigin replied ‘Christ is risen, so far as I’m concerned, the question doesn’t arise’. Now different churches take different forms, but the Christian Church is defined in the NT by two things alone – being in Christ and being of the place where it is set. Which is why Ephesians begins (as many of Paul’s letters) ‘To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus’. Christ, place, and people – these are the vital ingredients of the church. And in the White Horse team, as you celebrate your life together, your priorities must above all to remain in Christ, in place (I shan’t say ‘in your place’!) and as a holy people, just like the Ephesians. Remaining united as God’s holy people requires great patience as we bear with one another, but the heart of this is, as you know, a recognition that our difference from one another is a gift. And that a flourishing church needs all its members to find and be encouraged in their unique contribution, which is likely to change over time, as we grow. The role you have had in church for the last ten years might not be the one you are now called to. There may be some that need to set down your current role and do a new thing. After 25 years of marriage, I have finally conceded that my wife is far better at building things than I am - so we have agreed that now she does this and I will loiter about sounding encouraging, offering cups of tea, and getting in her light. In this task, it is by far the best place for me. Whatever your role within this team of churches, let us offer ourselves anew to him today and ask him to make something of us. When we do this, something really rather wonderful happens: the minor miracle of the English parish church. May God continue to bless your life together. Amen. Bishop Andrew
<h1>Birthday Hymns</h1><div>When you next come to church please take a post-it note and write your name, date of birthday (you don’t need to give me birth year!) and your favourite hymn - if you prefer a particular tune, please also include that and give to Jocelyn or Rev Caroline. Rather than a one off songs of praise type service we thought we would like to celebrate us becoming one large family. One thing that every family does is celebrate birthdays, celebrations are a very special opportunity to enjoy being in one another's company, so, on the Sunday nearest your birthday we will sing your favourite hymn during the service.</div>
And Jesus answered and said unto him, “Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” - Luke 4 : 8Lent traditions have changed over the years, but its purpose has always been the same: self-examination and penitence, in preparation for Easter. Each year we need resetting and Lent is the opportunity to do that. We live in a noisy world, with the constant coming and goings, pings and beeps on our phones and an endless stream of news at our fingertips that can fill our heart and minds with fear, anxiety, pride, envy, anger, and a whole host of other emotions that all help to keep us from the Lord. Lent is the perfect time to silence these noises. We often begin with a reflection on the temptations of Jesus. The challenges to Jesus are all about power. Jesus’ Power to turn stones into bread. Jesus’ Power to summon angels for protection, the Promise of Power in the kingdoms of the world. The first temptation of Jesus was about an ordinary physical need. He was famished, and the temptation was bread. Hunger can make people make bad decisions. The second temptation of Jesus was nothing short of asking for a miracle on demand. Jesus did perform many miracles, but each one was a political rule. He rejected outright the zealots’ call for him to be the focus of opposition to the Roman rule. As he said to Pilate, “My Kingdom is not of this world”. So how do we respond to the temptations that Satan presents to us? C.S. Lewis wrote a book entitled, The Screwtape Letters. It is a book of letters from a senior devil to an apprentice devil who has just been assigned his first human. His assignment is to lead this person away from God. Sometimes it’s interesting to view temptation from the side of the tempter. Father God, we thank You for Jesus’ example of how He spent 40 days focusing on You and getting ready to do the mission You gave Him. We pray that You will help us to focus on You during these 40 days of Lent so that we will be ready to serve You better and do whatever work You have for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.Intercessions1st March: St David’s Day: Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Your servant, St. David, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in his many years serving You throughout his home country of Wales. Amen.2nd March: Ash Wednesday: Almighty and everlasting God, who hates nothing that you have made, and forgives the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.4th March: World Day of Prayer: Almighty Father, whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of all: govern the hearts and minds of those in authority, and bring the families of the nations, divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin, to be subject to his just and gentle rule; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.17th March: St Patrick’s Day: God our Father, you sent Saint Patrick to preach your glory to the people of Ireland. By the help of his prayers, may all Christians proclaim your love to all men. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.25th March: Lady Day: We ask you, O Lord, to pour your grace into our hearts; that, as we have known the incarnation of thy Son Jesus Christ by the message of an angel, so by his cross and passion we may be brought unto the glory of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.27th March: Mothering Sunday: Loving God, Thank you for mums and children and for all the joy of family life. Be with those who are grieving because they have no mother; Be close to those who are struggling because they have no children; Be near to those who are sad because they are far apart from those they love. Let your love be present in every home and help your church to have eyes to see and ears to hear the needs of all who come. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Those in need of our prayers: Ann Cowburn & family, Sheila, Jo N, Suzanne, and David.The people of Ukraine.Father God, King of all nations, we cry out to you now for the people of Ukraine. We ask you to rescue those whoare vulnerable from the hands of their enemies so that they may live without fear. Bring comfort to all who mourn. We ask this in the name of Jesus your Son and our Redeemer. Amen all hope. Amen.
Monday 26th July 2021 saw the start of our weekly Soul Space sessions in church. During the winter we are meeting Monthly on the 1st Monday of the month These offer even more that our very popular Monday afternoon Coffee & Cake afternoons from before the pandemic. Do pop in - any Monday for refreshments, play board games or jigsaws or crafts!!Quiet personal time or a confidential listening ear available if needed. (Poster images courtesy of Bridgesward, Tumisu, Rudy & Peter Skiterrians & Conger Design of Pixabay)
