When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He said to him, ‘“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’ - Matthew 22:34-40 Since mid-April the Methodist Church has been running a campaign called #loveyourself #loveyourneighbour. As part of this they have been highlighting some of the things people have been doing. and could do, both to care for themselves and to care for those around them during the period of lockdown for COVID-19. As we emerge from lockdown this perhaps becomes more critical. In addition to adhering to government rules, we have to our make personal choices and decisions. In exploring how we do the 'right thing', I came across this helpful reference point, written by Paul Fitzgerald, a Jesuit and professor of religious studies at Santa Clara University in Silicon Valley: To orient oneself means, literally, to turn to the East, where the sun rises, to get one's bearings. Faith serves the same purpose as the sun, in a figurative sense, in the practice of ethical judgment. Faith allows individuals and groups to search out the present good against a (relatively) stable backdrop. And what better basis for this really could the Methodist Church have chosen during COVID-19 than the Greatest Commandment. This Bible passage is one that we know well, but that also means it is easy to forget quite how incredible this passage is, and how much Jesus is telling us. The Pharisees were trying to trick Jesus and he gives the ‘right’ answer and tells them the most important thing we can do is to ‘love the Lord’. But he goes beyond what he needs to say on that occasion and this is where he tells us we must love our neighbour as ourselves. Of course he does not quite tell us we must #loveourselves but to love our neighbour as we love ourselves tells us we must first love ourselves and then love our neighbour just as much. So Jesus tells us everything in the Old Testament in some sense depends on these two commandments: the commandment to love God and the commandment to love our neighbour. John Piper, in a wonderful two-part sermon delivered in 1995, says this: "Love your neighbour as yourself" is a very radical command. It cuts to the root of our sinfulness and exposes it and, by God's grace, severs it. The root of our sinfulness is the desire for our own happiness apart from God and apart from the happiness of others in God. Jesus is telling us that we all want to be happy, we all want a place to live, we all want new clothes to wear, we all want good food to eat, we all want to be safe from COVID-19. And that this is a human trait. We all have this desire. And in fact it is part of God’s plan, this is how we are born. And Jesus is telling us it is not wrong, it is not wrong to want food, shelter, clothes, safety or happiness for ourselves. John Piper puts it something like this: Whether it has become wrong in our life will be revealed as we hear and respond to Jesus' commandment. He commands, "As you love yourself, so love your neighbour." Which means: As you long for food when you are hungry, so long to feed your neighbour when they are hungry. As you long for nice clothes for yourself, so long for nice clothes for your neighbour. As you work for a comfortable place to live, so desire a comfortable place to live for your neighbour. As you seek to be safe and secure from COVID-19, so seek comfort and security for your neighbour. So first we must love God completely, and then we must love ourselves, and then, because we love God, we share this love with others. John Piper (again) puts it like this: God has called me—indeed he has commanded me—to come to him first for all these things. He commands that my love for him be the form of my love for me. That all my longings for me I find in him. That is what my self-love is now. It is my love for God. They have become one. My quest for happiness is now nothing other than a quest for God. And he has been found in Jesus. This does not mean that choices will be easy. There are competing claims on our time. There are hard choices about what to give up and what to keep. There are different interpretations of what is good for another person and good for ourselves. But loving God sustains us through all the joys and difficulties of what loving our neighbour and loving ourselves should be. Walter Klaiber, who is a retired Methodist bishop from Germany has written: ‘The first thing that strikes me during this pandemic is that it shows with impressive clarity what is in people’s hearts. And that’s good and bad.’ During this crisis, we have lots of competing concerns: what do I need to do for myself in the short- and long- term? What is best for my family and those immediately around me? What is best for our society, our country, and others around the world? During lockdown should I use the time as an opportunity to go out to exercise more, or stay in my home to stay most safe from the virus? And as we slowly open up, do I support local businesses, or do I continue to ‘shield’? Do I go into the post office really quickly, trying not to touch anything? Or do I not go? How do I behave in public spaces to protect myself and others? When will it be safe to reopen our churches and chapels? How should we do it? And for whom will it be safe? Many of us are thinking about similar things right now. In reminding us of #loveyourself #loveyourneighbour the Methodist Church is giving us a way to get our bearings and start conversations about this. At the heart of all our decisions should be one thing: love. Here is a worship song by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend all about God's Kingdom: Matthew
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One of our members has submitted the following prayer to help us in our devotions. As we prepare to celebrate Easter each and every Sunday, let's say:
Dear God, As you did your son, drag us out of our tombs. There is no virtue in the world, no lifestyle choices, no amount of wokeness that can pull the sun up from the East each day, Lord. So turn our heads, even if ever so slightly, toward the dawn, so that we may know that it is your grace that both raises the sun and raises the dead. Even if we have given up, yank us out of our graves of choice. Rescue us from despairing. When we return to tombs that are no longer meant for us: revive old resentments, pick up a drink after years of sobriety; again give pieces of our hearts to that which can never love us back, remind us that you never tire of reaching into tombs and loving us back to life. Comfort the dying, Lord. Revive the faltering. Grant us joy and make our song Alleluia…not because we aren’t paying attention, but because we are. Amen. - Nadia Bolz-Weber "What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit to the Rocking Horse one day, when they were lying side by side near the playroom door, just before Grandma came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?" "Real isn't how you are made," said the Rocking Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become real." "Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit. "Sometimes," said the Rocking Horse, for he was always truthful. "But when you are real you don't mind being hurt." "Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?" "It doesn't happen all at once," said the Rocking Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be kept carefully. Generally, by the time you are real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand." This story from the Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams (1922), reminds us that love makes us real. St Paul reminds us in his first letter to the Corinthians that we may be able to speak even the language of angels, to prophecy, to know all manner of things and even have the faith to move mountains. We may give away everything we have to feed the poor, even sacrifice ourselves, but without love we are nothing. Today we experience the love shown to us by our family, our friends, our neighbours, the person who happened to call us at just the right time, the WhatsApp message that gave us the encouragement we needed, people we may never meet or know working hard for us in the NHS, supermarkets, utilities, security and transport. As St Paul reminds us, “Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13 verses 4-7, WEB) This, is REAL love. A familiar arrangement of the Beatles song, Real Love: Andrew Ellams May the love of the Lord rest upon your soul. May his love dwell in you throughout every day. May his countenance shine upon you and be gracious to you. May his Spirit be upon you as you leave this place. May the love of the Lord (Singing the Faith 771) This English version of the blessing from Numbers 6:24–26, along with the music, were written by Singaporean couple Lim Swee Hong and Maria Poh Choo Ling. Dr. Lim, who now lectures at The University of Toronto, used to teach at Trinity Theological College on Upper Bukit Timah Road in Singapore, which is just up the road from the flat where I used to live! It's a joy for me to see this worship music penned by a Singaporean couple featured in our current British Methodist hymn book, Singing the Faith. A true reminder to all of us about the international church. As Dr. Lim reminds us in an article written in 2018 published in the Yale Institute of Sacred Music Review: There are currently 599 million Christians in Africa compared to 597 million in Latin America and 550 million in Europe. The report projects that by the year 2050 the number of Christians in the global south (Africa, Asia, Latin America and Oceania) will surpass those in Europe and North America. The article goes on to primarily discuss the worship and music of Christians in the global south. He concludes by asserting: Without romanticizing poverty, it is possible to discern in such musical expression the people’s willingness to assert their stance of faith, the immediacy of their desire to encounter God, and the unconditional trust that they have for God’s goodness, regardless of their real burdens and struggles. Perhaps these embody lessons that the church in the global north can learn in order to remain effective witnesses in the new reality of our own socio-cultural landscape, where the institutional church is increasingly marginalized by lack of credibility, and where its relevance fades as society turns away from organized religion. Indeed, for the poor, the kingdom of God is not located in an earth-bound religious institution, but is found in the realm of personal faith in a powerful God that acts. Might this be what we need to rediscover? There are areas in which we may disagree with brothers and sisters in other parts of the world, and our own experiences in Europe and North America have lead to a focus on other challenges. There is, nevertheless, much that we can learn and share and discuss together. Whilst division and overt racism and discrimination have sadly been in the news again of late, let us, as Christians, remember one of the many blessings of belonging to a truly global movement, and that is wherever we may find ourselves, we find a family and we find a home. Here is a version of the blessing from YouTube: Matthew During this pandemic, children everywhere have had their part to play in these difficult and challenging times. Like the rest of us, their world and lives have changed. As a Primary School Teacher I have the privilege of working with children and I am often inspired by their sense of awe and wonder and passion for life. They are impulsive, enthusiastic and often like sponges- soaking up and absorbing all sorts of ideas and ways of doing different things. Children are also mentioned in the Bible by Jesus as an example of how we might be:- But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and told them, “ Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them ! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them, and blessed them….’ - Mark 10v 14-16 “Truly I tell you, “He said, “ unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” - Matthew 18v3 So, what is this child like growing, changing and learning that Jesus might be referring to here. Some ideas, thoughts and questions for us all to reflect on (and that definitely includes the person writing this!). The Kingdom of God is like a gift because of God’s love for us. When children receive a gift, they generally accept it and want to enjoy it and are excited by it. Do we always accept and enjoy the love God gives to us? Children have utter dependence on those around them. Christ is calling us to have utter dependence on him as a way to his kingdom. Do we always have utter dependence on God? Children are born with a love for learning and exploring and in the early years, this is often through play. Do we hold a passion for learning about the kingdom of God that makes us want to learn more? Children often approach learning with open hearts and minds, wanting to learn and because of this their behaviour and way of being is changed. How open are we to come before Jesus with humility and let the love and teaching of Jesus change our behaviour and ways so that we may become more like him? I have always found it rather frightening to hear these words uttered from the mouths of parents :- ‘I always know what happened in class today Mrs Emison as it is always role played at home.’ ‘I don’t know where they got the word wowzers from, we certainly don’t use it!’ To some extent children (and adults) reflect and absorb the mannerisms and character of people they watch, observe and study. No wonder we have the phrase ‘a chip off the old block’ and we are told ‘you sound just like your mother!’ and I end up asking myself, do I always reflect the image of God? A prayer for ourselves:- Lord, Teach me to dance, love, receive respond forgive change and learn from you so that all of your children may know your love and care for them. A prayer for our children:- Let us pray for children who have been separated from loved ones for long periods of time due to their carers/ parents being key workers. For those children and families who are struggling financially due to job losses and the cost of living and having to reluctantly resort to food banks For children who haven’t been able to see grandparents before they die and those missing family members. For children living in countries where their basic needs of shelter, food, clothing, medical care and protection from harm were already threatened even before this crisis began. Hold them all in your love. Amen This is another (!) favourite song of mine that speaks of being a child of God and being set free by his grace. Lastly, to turn this all around, I have always loved the image of God’s love being like the persuasive (and sometimes annoying !) tug of a toddler’s hand. A hand that gently pulls and guides us to play, dance, watch and learn. Naomi Emison
It was a morning in mid-March, I was walking to work across the city from The Royal Hotel in Hull to Hull College which stands at the top of Queen’s Gardens, until 1930 the city’s largest dock and now a peaceful, colourful public garden and meeting place, which regularly hosts music festivals, play days and the annual firework display. As I arrived at the college I paused in the forecourt and read the inscriptions on the base of the Wilberforce Memorial, which stands in the college grounds, thinking to myself that I must, at some time, take some photographs which I might use for a sermon, a short address or maybe even a website reflection! The foundations for the William Wilberforce Monument were laid on 1st August 1834, the same day as the abolition of slavery in the British Colonies. It is 102 feet high, carved out of Yorkshire millstone grit, with a 12 foot statue of Wilberforce at the top, looking out over his beloved city. On its base it bears the words, “erected by public subscription” at a cost of £1,250, equivalent to an eye-watering £90,500 today. William Wilberforce was born in Hull on 24th August 1759. The son of a wealthy merchant, he studied at Cambridge University, where he became good friends with future Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger. In 1780 he became Member of Parliament for Hull, but his lifestyle changed completely when in 1790, encouraged by Rev'd. John Newton, he became an evangelical Christian and joined a leading group known as “The Clapham Sect”, commemorated today on a blue plaque at Holy Trinity Church, Clapham Common. Wilberforce’s Christian faith prompted him to become involved in social reform, as he worked to improve factory conditions in Britain, but through the work of the abolitionist Thomas Clarkson, Wilberforce began to lobby for the abolition of the slave trade and for 18 years he regularly introduced anti-slavery motions in Parliament. His work was supported by the Clapham Sect who produced pamphlets, held rallies and encouraged many ordinary folk to sign petitions. In 1807 the slave trade was finally abolished but this still did not free those who were already slaves. Following this victory Wilberforce fought a series of other actions including trying to prevent France from resuming its slave trade after the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Finally, in 1833, an Act was passed that gave freedom to all slaves in the British Empire, shortly after this Wilberforce died on 29th July 1833. As he lay dying he heard that the Bill to free all slaves in the British Colonies had passed its second reading in the Commons. “Thank God”, he said, “that I should live to witness a day in which England is willing to give twenty millions sterling for the abolition of slavery.” He is buried near his friend William Pitt in Westminster Abbey. William Wilberforce is still celebrated in Hull, his house has been turned into a museum telling the story of his work and last year the National Portrait Gallery loaned a portrait of Wilberforce to the city so that it could be put on public display. His monument was even renovated, again by public subscription, to celebrate “Hull City of Culture 2017”. He deserves an important place in the story of emancipation, but he shares it with many others, both black and white, men and women, in Britain and overseas, inspired by faith and fuelled by the belief, as Wilberforce put it, that, “Having seen all this you can choose to look the other way, but you can never say again, ‘I did not know’”. As we pray today for those who still struggle for freedom, we remember the words of St Paul in his letter to the Galatians, when he says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ.” (Galatians 3 verse 28, WEB) When I return to Hull, I must remember to take that photograph. This song reminds us of those for whom following God means serving others, despite where that may take them: Andrew Ellams In 1984 Grace and I found ourselves in Meltham, a small village on the edge Huddersfield. I was serving in my first appointment as a Methodist Minister in the Holmfirth Circuit. One Sunday morning I was watching the early breakfast news programme which included in it a poem. I suddenly pricked up my ears as I listened. The poem was one that was to be included in our church’s newsletter that very morning. It was a scoop! Lots of people commented about seeing it on the news and having it in our newsletter as they had never heard it before. No doubt you are wondering what the poem was. It was: “Footprints” or “Footprints in the Sand”. Here is the full version:
One night I dreamed a dream. As I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, One belonging to me and one to my Lord. After the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that at many times along the path of my life, especially at the very lowest and saddest times, there was only one set of footprints. This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it. "Lord, you said once I decided to follow you, You'd walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me." He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you Never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you." We all appreciate friends and their companionship, those who travelling alongside us in life’s journey. They laugh with us and share our joys and are a source of strength and encouragement in difficult days. In the Bible God says: “I will never leave you or forsake you…”, but our faith does not mean we will not experience difficulties, illness, hardship or sorrow. We all face the reality of living in a world that is not as God intended. There are moments when we may wonder if God really is as loving and in control as we hoped. Has he left us to cope alone? I am convinced that God is always with us, even if it feels different to that. He is always right there beside us, or carrying us through the valley. Liverpool football fans will be pleased that this football season looks like it will be completed and they will be crowned Premier League champions. Congratulations to them - and that’s from a Man United supporter! Take encouragement from the Liverpool anthem knowing You’ll Never Walk Alone. Charles Hill Some of you may have watched the “Newsnight” programme featuring Methodist Homes. It recounted the difficulties and sadness being experienced by care homes across the country during the pandemic and was an eye-opener to the challenging times they are going through. Tomorrow, June 14th, will be MHA Sunday and it is an opportunity to remember the support that is given to over 18,500 older people through MHA’s care homes, retirement living schemes and community groups. Due to the Covid-19 crisis their memorial and remembrance service this year will be delivered “virtually” and will honour those they have lost in recent weeks. We give thanks for all the work they do, the specialist care they offer and their willing volunteers. We hold them is our prayers at this special time. The theme for the service this year is kindness and is inspired by the Bible story of Ruth and Naomi. See Ruth chapters 1 & 2. Thinking about this familiar story we remember the act of kindness when Naomi chose to stay with her elderly mother-in-law, Ruth, rather than return to her own family following the death of her husband. Ruth travels with Naomi, going to a foreign land, and choosing a way of life where there is no promise of a better future and she goes as far as saying to her mother-in-law; “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” - Ruth 1:16 As this story moves on Ruth is introduced to Boaz who offers the two women security and hope and allows Ruth to glean the left over grain in his field. Ruth’s kindness to Naomi is rewarded by the kindness of Boaz. MHA’s hope is to see people moving from loneliness into a community, receiving kindness and finding a sense of belonging in their later years. As we think about MHA may we be a blessing to others by what we do and the kindness we are able to show to those in need. Ros Caldwell By going to the MHA website more resources are available, a special MHA Sunday Service will be broadcast, and there is an opportunity to donate. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6 The surname Lloyd Webber would be hard to have escaped in the second part of the twentieth century, either the composer Andrew or the cellist Julian. Their father, William, became director of music at Methodist Central Hall Westminster in 1958, and both Andrew and Julian regularly attended worship at Central Hall during this period. Here is Julian talking about this period of his life on an episode of Songs of Praise, that was repeated this past week on BBC1: During his time at Central Hall, William Lloyd Webber composed a mass based on the words from Isaiah at the top of this page, the Missa Princeps Pacis (Mass Prince of Peace). Although perhaps not as famous the setting from Handel’s Messiah this piece of music is a significant one, not least for us because of the connection to the Methodist Church. Our Lord, this passage makes clear to us, loves His people as His children. The use of this word peace, we are told by the Bible commentators, implies prosperity as well as tranquility. As Christians, we understand this passage to be something of a prediction of the Messiah that was to come that would usher in this prosperity and tranquility. It tells us that there is only one way we can live a well-ordered and balanced life in this world, and that is through Jesus. He knows our needs: physical, emotional and spiritual. To only focus on one, or to get the balance wrong, as we so often do, will never lead to satisfactory or peaceful living, either within ourselves or in our relationships with others. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. So if we focus on Jesus, the Prince of Peace, and talk to God in prayer, then we too can be partakers in that peace of God. Here is that mass performed by the Westminster Singers and the City of London Sinfonia conducted by Richard Hickox, a chance to meditate on God's peace: Matthew I enjoy programmes about social history such as A House Through Time where the stories of people who have lived in one particular house are uncovered. This series features a house in Guinea Street in Bristol which was built by a wealthy slave trader. The street itself was named after the Guinea coast in West Africa which was a hub of the international slave trade. Bristol was to become, at the time, Britain’s biggest slaving port and many of the people who subsequently lived in the house benefited either directly or indirectly from this trade. A short distance from the house was the Guinea Street Wesleyan (Methodist) Chapel. Having witnessed first- hand the suffering of slaves on plantations in America, John Wesley was one of the first campaigners for the abolition of slavery. He was a powerful orator and in his sermons he would speak out against the slave trade. This was a dangerous thing to do and led to protests against him. Wesley continued with the campaign throughout his life and one of his last acts was to write to William Wilberforce encouraging him to proceed with the bill to abolish slavery which eventually was passed into law in 1807. The recent protests in Bristol focussed on the statue of another slave trader, showing the painful legacy that is still with us. The worldwide protests have also highlighted inequalities that still exist and show that we are not yet where God wants us to be. 1 Corinthians 12:13 says: “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.” Carolyn Frayne To explore Methodist perspectives and responses to this further, the President of the Methodist Conference, the Rev'd. Dr. Barbara Glasson, has written a personal message and The Methodist Council is undertaking a substantial piece of work to shape the Methodist Church to be an inclusive church. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee. Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty! God in three Persons, blessed Trinity! Reginald Heber (Singing the Faith 11) In response to this hymn, I offer reflections by two persons, one comparatively old, Irenæus (c. 115-c. 202), and one much more recent, Carlo Carretto (1910-88). Irenæus "Without the Spirit it is not possible to hold the Word of God, nor can anyone without the Son, draw near to the Father, for the knowledge of the Father is the Son and the knowledge of the Son of God is through the Holy Spirit.” Carlo Carretto "God offers himself in three ways: his Spirit, his presence, and the revelation of Himself. And for these three offers He asks of man, but one thing "If a man loves me"." "These three ways of God offering himself to us are possible because of the death and resurrection of Christ and are a reality because of Him. It is through prayers we absorb this reality, for prayer establishes us on the deepest possible relationship with God. By our prayer we share the life of God." "The Trinity becomes a reality within us, as the guest of the soul, Earth becomes heaven." John Clarke This powerful prayer was featured in our Sunday worship a few weeks back. Thanks to the Carter family for putting this together: I have been visiting this ancient woodland regularly as part of my daily exercise. Seeing the changes as the bluebells and wild garlic emerge has been reassuring during this time of uncertainty. The excellent stewardship undertaken by the volunteer group The Friends of Hob Hey Wood wIll ensure that this ancient woodland will continue to enchant visitors for many years to come. Psalm 145:5 says: On the glorious splendour of your majesty and on your wondrous works I will meditate. The below poem, written during lockdown by Jayne Bryson, was inspired by childhood memories of Hob Hey Wood: Carolyn Frayne
One of our members has suggested this powerful music video, Glorious Day (Official Live Video/Lyrics And Chords) ft. Kristian Stanfill, for use in our own daily reflections: During this period of lockdown we are lucky to be able to go out and walk in the countryside surrounding Frodsham, a reminder both of our local agricultural heritage and the beauty of God’s creation. On a recent walk along a track which took us from Simon’s Lane up to the Ridgeway we were not only able to enjoy the warmth of the spring sunshine but saw the young spring lambs out in the fields, protected by their mothers just in case they should stray too far from the rest of the flock. We often think of that same image of Jesus the Good Shepherd. The disciple John reminds us of the words of Jesus which you can find in chapter 10 and verses 1-10 of his gospel, when he says, “I am the gate for the sheep.” Jesus the gate for the sheep, Jesus who is not like others who came to mislead, who came to offer hope and life, but who were thieves and robbers. “I am the gate”, says Jesus, “whoever comes in by me will be saved; he will come in and go out and find pasture.” Scholars tell us that the Jews did not understand the meaning of the story of the Good Shepherd. So Jesus tells them in plain terms by applying it to himself. He began by saying “I am the gate”. Jesus spoke of two types of sheepfold. In the villages and towns of Judea there were communal sheepfolds where all the village flock were sheltered when they returned home. The folds were protected by strong gates, to which only one guardian of the door held the key. Jesus firstly refers to that type of sheepfold, where he is the guardian, the single person who can open up the way for us. In the summer the sheep were out on the hills and they did not return to the village at all, instead they were collected into hillside sheepfolds, which were just open spaces enclosed by a wall. There was a single opening by which the sheep came in and went out; but there was no gate. At night the shepherd would lie across the opening to the fold, so now the sheep could not get out or in without crossing over his body. The shepherd was the gate. In this wonderful illustration we are reminded that we can only come in and go out through Christ, for he is the only way to God, he is the gate through which entrance to God becomes possible. Not the entrance to God like that of the High Priest, the only person allowed into the Holy of Holies in the Jewish Temple, but an entrance for all, at every stage of their life and experience. The Psalmist recognises this in Psalm 121, “God will keep me at my going out and coming in, henceforth and forever.” Even in the uncertain times in which we find ourselves, we have that assurance from Jesus that he is the gate through which we come in and go out and find pasture. We have that sense of security and safety that as we bring our concerns and prayers to Him, the Good Shepherd, then not only do we have life, we have it more abundantly! “This is the truth I tell you”, said Jesus, “I am the gate for the sheep”. Listen to this setting of Psalm 23, which may sound familiar! Andrew Ellams You have heard of asylum seekers getting to the UK from The Middle East, North Africa and Central and South America. They have had traumatic journeys, but do you know what happens to them after they arrive? They disappear from the newspapers and news reports. Where are they?
They are “processed” on arrival and then dispersed to hostels in cities around the country (there are several in Liverpool). They are lodged in this accommodation for about four weeks during which they must start the process of applying to the Home Office to be accepted as a refugee. They need to learn how to get their £5/day support, register for medical care, find how to shop, find foodbanks, extra clothing, contact agencies and organisations who might be able to help. Then, just as they are beginning to understand the system, they are moved again to new accommodation. They are given no choice but placed by Serco in housing provided through Local Authorities and there they must stay until a decision is made on their application for refugee status (usually more than 6 months). They have no help beyond the housing, heating, medical treatment and a daily £5 allowance. They are left to fend for themselves with no contacts other than the Serco Housing Officer. Halton Borough houses over 100 such asylum seekers. This is the story of one of them. He only arrived in England a few weeks ago. He left Iraq early last year because as a young professional he belonged to the wrong ethnic group. First he lost his job and then it became dangerous for him to be outside his parents’ house because of attacks on people in his minority group. No longer safe or able to provide for his aging parents he left his home, negotiating his way through Italy and France to England, sometimes in official camps other times sleeping rough. When he eventually arrived in the UK at the Immigration detention centre he had his passport, a few pounds, two gold rings his mother had given him, a phone with a cracked screen, 23 words of English and a few clothes. He was interviewed and processed and issued with an ID card (which specifically said that he had no right of abode and no right to work). He had the right to medical treatment, £5 a day for food and all other expenses, and accommodation in a hostel or other accommodation wherever the authorities chose to put him. He would have to prepare a case for him to be accepted as a refugee , this he would submit to the Home Office. He learned quickly that forms had to be correctly completed (in a foreign language – English). He was quickly moved to a hostel in Liverpool and told he would be there for about four weeks. There were over 80 people in the hostel. Fortunately there were one or two people who could speak his language and they helped him find a local foodbank. At the foodbank they gave out food bags once a week and had a supply of second hand clothes and shoes from which he could kit himself out to deal with the English weather. He did not always recognise the food or how to prepare it. Then things turned even worse. Everyone was talking about 'coronavirus'. The authorities, the foodbank, everyone in the hostel, were all talking about people dying, not shaking hands, washing hands, staying at home, closing foodbanks, government offices - no one knew what was happening. Then the accommodation officer from Serco said they had instructions to disperse everyone to new accommodation before the whole country was locked-down. The next day they took him and another man (not his countryman) from the hostel out of Liverpool to a place they called Halton. They were put in a house with only basic furnishings, given a key, and a number to call if there was a problem with the housing. He was left with no local information, no contacts, no food other than what they brought with them from Liverpool. For two days he and the other man walked around the streets seeing few people (most people were “Locked down”) and these people avoided them. Then they saw some people who looked like themselves. They dared speak to these folk who turned out to be refugees. These refugees told them that almost everywhere was closed, the government had told everyone to stay at home. They also advised them to try to contact Safe Space for asylum seekers at a church in the area. At this place they provided support, advice, links with other support agencies (foodbanks, schools, Red Cross), English lessons, some clothing, and perhaps most important, friendship. Unfortunately the Safe Space had had to closed too, but there was a phone number for one of the safe space volunteers. The two new arrivals in Halton phoned him – and he could speak their language! The TSS volunteer that they contacted explained the situation and that even the “safe space” (officially called Trinity Safe Space), was ‘locked-down’ and could not provide all of the support it had before lock-down but he would be able to get them some help from TSS. He organised to get them food from the local food bank plus some extra food and some extra clothing, underwear and shoes using emergency funds that he got from TSS. He put them in touch with other asylum seekers, local medical, voluntary, and social welfare services. He explained that the TSS had had some donations from churches, individuals and other groups to help them and the other asylum seekers in Halton during the lock-down – until the funds were all used. And who knows when that will be. Can you make it last a little longer? If you can help, weʼre raising £2,000 to support Asylum Seekers lodged in the Halton area. Thank you for any support you can give us, thoughts, prayers or donations. David Scott TSS support team The day before I turned 11 years old, my mum made me one of those 90s hedgehog birthday cakes: a round moulded cake, topped with a load of butter cream and chocolate fingers sticking out of the top. It had a little face with chocolate buttons as eyes. The cake was made and put in the fridge to be saved for my birthday tea the next day, but throughout the day a strange thing kept happening. The Hedgehog started getting smaller, by evening I was sure that he had less spikes and by bedtime he was also missing his eyes! It turns out that my older sister had been helping herself to the topping... the telling off for this was minimal so I’ve always suspected that my mum was doing the same (I’ll show them this and see if they remember!). I don’t actually like cake. People find this shocking. I do however like doughnuts. Now I’m going to say something really controversial, the comments section might go crazy about this: Doughnuts are far superior to cupcakes. I feel quite certain about this because with a cupcake, by the time you’ve had the first few mouthfuls, all the good bits have gone. Whereas with a doughnut the best bit is the goo waiting in the middle, making it a far worthier bakery product. We humans spend a lot of time focusing on our outside appearances, I confess, I’m one of the worst for this. We can be like cupcakes where all the attention is on the decorative outside, as we spend time and worry on clothing, make up, hair and physique. Sometimes even our religion can be used as an adorning sprinkling; something we add on to make ourselves feel better or to make us look like good, decent people. In contrast, during the Pentecost story we see the disciples being truly transformed from the inside out. The same people who had been arguing about who was the greatest among them, now have unity and they start radically sharing their possessions with each other. The Holy Spirit has ‘flooded their hearts with God’s love’ (Roman 5:5). This isn’t a sweet (sickly), frosting type of religion put on for show, but the genuine power of God’s loving presence working through them. The Spirit filled each of them (like doughnuts?) and began an inward transformation. Of course the story doesn’t end with the first disciples.The Pentecost story continues throughout the ages. It continued with John Wesley’s 1738 mystical experience as he felt his heart strangely warmed, which ensured that love, rather than dogma became the basis of Methodism. And today, the Pentecost story continues with us. The same loving power comes to each of us: God with us, God in us, God for us. You might still prefer cake to doughnuts, that’s ok, to be honest as a fitness instructor I probably shouldn’t be promoting any, but carrots and peas didn’t really work as an analogy. The Bible talks about each of us having the fruit of the spirit (jam?), this isn’t a decorative sprinkling of religion but God’s loving, transforming power, working within us. Of course, when God works within individuals, the story never ends there. The first disciples were moved to share Jesus beyond their own groups and boundaries. Wesley began to see the whole world as his parish. So it is with us, the Spirit moves within us, healing and strengthening our inner being but the Spirit also enables us to courageously share love and faith with others; like a gooey doughnut, the love of God knows no bounds, it always ends up oozing out. Bev Carter
Morning Worship for Sunday 31st May, will be streamed online and lead by our Minister, the Reverend Andrew Emison.
The service will start at 10am. It can be accessed here: https://tinyurl.com/t95wj9n The year is 1904 and teenager Florrie Evans stood up in a youth meeting in Newquay, Cardiganshire and declared publicly that she loved the Lord Jesus with all her heart. As she spoke those words, the spirit of God seemed to visibly fall on the meeting and the excitement and enthusiasm for the Christian gospel spread life fire to other young people across Cardiganshire. In September of the same year Evan Roberts, a faithful member of Moriah Calvanistic Methodist Church became a pupil of Newcastle Emlyn Grammar School, to prepare for Trefecca Theological College. After two weeks he had an experience of faith which sent him back to his own church at Moriah to share his own experience and encourage the people there to be open to God’s spirit. Within two weeks the Welsh Revival was national news and before long Evan and his brother Dan and their best friend Sydney Evans were travelling the country conducting Revival Meetings and they were meetings with a difference, for they broke the conventional and bi-passed the traditional. So much so that ministers sat down, unable to preach or even understand what had hit their usually sedate Welsh temples. This was a revival with youth on fire - young men and even, in this day and age, young women. A storm had hit the churches and it was a storm of love and power which completely transformed lives and continued in the same way from 1904 to 1906. People were changed in so many ways. The crime rate dropped, drunkards were reformed, pubs reported losses in trade and many were forced to close. Bad language disappeared and in some areas never returned, it was reported that pit ponies failed to understand their born again colliers who seemed to speak a different language - without curse and blasphemy. We’re told by one writer that “even rugby became uninteresting in the light of new joy and direction of the converts.” Colliers and tin-men, the working classes, prayed out loud and in new, refreshing and original ways. It was estimated at the time that there were 100,000 new converts and in the dying months of 1904 the movement spread across the world - to France, Turkey, the United States and even the Khasia Hills of India. It also led to a rush of church building and it was estimated that between 1904 and 1906 there was a new chapel in Wales every 8 days. In the late 1990’s one elderly Revival convert was asked whether she felt the revival stopped in 1906, she answered, “No, it’s still burning within my heart now - it’s never been extinguished - it has burned in the same way for over 70 years.” At Pentecost we again wait on that same spirit of God, that came like a rushing wind to the early followers of Christ, as well as to those who prayed for revival in the Welsh valleys, because as St Luke says to us in the Acts of the Apostles, “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” The arrival of God’s spirit brings with it the revival of God’s people. A recording of “Here is Love, vast as the ocean”, a hymn of the Welsh Revival, sung first in Welsh and then in English: Andrew Ellams For those who watch Frodsham Methodist Church's online worship each Sunday, these superb prayers of adoration were part of our service a fortnight ago. We praise and thank God for his greatness that is seen in all Creation. Video by George |
ReflectionsThe reflections here are written by members of our congregation.
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