When I was little Advent Calendars were of two types: The first type was the "non-religious" where the pictures which were revealed were of snowmen and parcels and Santa Claus and robins - even if the picture on the front was vaguely "religious" the innards certainly weren't! The second type was the "religious" type which usually had either a very arty nativity or a cartoon Bethlehem scene on the front and pictures of angels or wise men or shepherds or donkeys. If it was a particularly "religious" calendar then on the inside of the doors there would be one of the familiar Christmas verses
These days there is one qualifying factor for Advent calendars - they have to provide huge quantities of chocolate for every day of December. If they are particularly indulgent then there is an extra chocolate for Christmas Day (Horror of horrors - my advent calendars used to stop at number 24!!!) and even an extra countdown to the New Year.
It got me thinking about Christmas and how we prepare for the celebration. Are we like the first type of calendar with vaguely religious intentions but then we give in to robins and tinsel. Or are we like the second type where December is a month to be religious, to remember the familiar words and stories but then when January comes its back to normal. Or maybe Christmas is just a time to party - lots and lots of chocolate and then an extra party for New Year.
This December why not try something different - why not take a few minutes in and amidst the busyness to wonder why God should choose to be one of us, to become a baby, to live and care and heal and ultimately to die - the Bible says so that we could live life to the full.
So are we headed for a traditional December? I hope not!
Monday, November 20, 2006
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Forgiveness
Hmm. Have you ever struggled to forgive someone, or perhaps to be forgiven. Stephen preached on Sunday about this as part of our being the body series - check out the sermon using the "sermon downloads" link in the column on the right!
Monday, October 23, 2006
Sermons
If you want to hear a sermon again then click here or click on the link on the right of the blog!
Remembering
November is a time for remembering. We start the month with the annual competition to let off the biggest firework (with bonus points if you do it after midnight) in memory of Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators who attempted to blow up King James. Then comes a more solemn time when we wear our poppies and pause on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to remember the men and women who gave their lives in two World Wars and in many conflicts since. Later in the month on the evening of Sunday 19th at All Saints Church we will take time to remember our loved ones have died when we gather to remember and to think and to cry.
The same is true of our faith – the Christian faith is about remembering – remembering that God created the world, that He loves each one of us so much that He came to save us – remembering His death and resurrection with the symbols of bread and wine – remembering that He is here now through his Holy Spirit. We need to be deliberate about telling the story of God, not just waiting for it to come up in conversation or in our homes, but actively remembering, reminding ourselves and others of the Good News – allowing God to make it real again in our hearts and minds.
November is a time for remembering. The hope we have comes from remembering God’s faithfulness in the past and then looking ahead to the future that he has promised.
Monday, September 04, 2006
Will your anchor hold?
In loving memory of Gladys - A lady whose anchor held firm to the end and who is now safe in God's hands
Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
Fastened to the rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love!
Will your anchor hold in the straits of fear?
When the breakers roar and the reef is near;
While the surges rave, and the wild winds blow,
Shall the angry waves then your bark o’erflow?
Will your anchor hold in the floods of death,
When the waters cold chill your latest breath?
On the rising tide you can never fail,
While your anchor holds within the veil.
Will your eyes behold through the morning light
The city of gold and the harbour bright?
Will your anchor safe by the heavenly shore,
When life’s storms are past for evermore?------------
Just a question - where are you anchored?
Monday, May 29, 2006
Is there more to life than this?
It's a good question.
Is there more to life than eat, sleep, work, shout at the kids, be shouted at by your wife/husband/parents/children?
Is there more to life than just what we can see?
Some people ask the question and despair because they haven't found an answer.
In the Autumn of this year there is a chance to explore the meaning of life;
to ask questions;
to talk.
At All Saints we are going to run an Alpha Course - which provides a very easy way to explore together some of the big questions of life
Questions about suffering, about religion, about faith, about how to cope with life as we know it, maybe even questions about God!
So watch out for more information over the coming months and maybe you could find out if there is more to life than this!
Is there more to life than eat, sleep, work, shout at the kids, be shouted at by your wife/husband/parents/children?
Is there more to life than just what we can see?
Some people ask the question and despair because they haven't found an answer.
In the Autumn of this year there is a chance to explore the meaning of life;
to ask questions;
to talk.
At All Saints we are going to run an Alpha Course - which provides a very easy way to explore together some of the big questions of life
Questions about suffering, about religion, about faith, about how to cope with life as we know it, maybe even questions about God!
So watch out for more information over the coming months and maybe you could find out if there is more to life than this!
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Up, In, Out
Well, the Sunday after Easter Day is traditionally called Low Sunday - why that is I'm not sure but the modern take on it is that the congregation is usually very "low" in numbers.
This year our beloved Local Education Authority decided to put the two week Easter school holiday before Easter so it was back to work in a hurry on Easter Tuesday!!
Hence the long break in the blog - blame it on post Easter chocolate poisoning!!
So what's with the title - well over the last few weeks we've been learning about "Lifeshapes" a resource developed by Walt Kallestad and Mike Breen (former Rector of St Thomas' Church, Crookes, Sheffield).
The shapes are simple - you'll find a summary here - but they really help in living a Jesus-centred life.
Today we were thinking about the Triangle and about a truly balanced Christian life -
Up - our relationship with God - how we worship, pray, and learn to be God's friends
In - our relationships with each other - how we show love for one another in the church family
Out - our relationship with the world - how we share the good news of God's love with others
At All Saints we've been thinking about how these relate to us
UP - the word was "Listen" - we need to learn how to listen to God, not just telling Him what we think but taking time to listen to Him and what He says
IN - the word was "Love" - obvious but not easy - Loving everyone, even people that you really don't like - "Love your enemies" Jesus said - easy to say but to do it...
OUT - the word was "Go" - again obvious but have a read of the following story
Now it came to pass that a group existed who called themselves fishermen. And lo, there were many fish in the waters all around. In fact, the whole area was surrounded by streams and lakes filled with fish. And the fish were hungry.
Week after week, month after month, and year after year, those who called themselves fishermen met in meetings and talked about their call to fish, the abundance of fish, and how they might go about fishing. Year after year, they carefully defined what fishing means, defended fishing as an occupation, and declared that fishing is always to be a primary task of fishermen.
These fishermen built large, beautiful buildings for local fishing headquarters. The plea was that everyone should be a fisherman and every fisherman should fish.
One thing they didn't do, however; they didn't fish.
In addition to meeting regularly, they organized a board to send out fishermen to other places where there were many fish. The board was formed by those who had the great vision and courage to speak about fishing, to define fishing, to promote the idea of fishing in faraway streams and lakes where many other fish of different colors lived. Also the board hired staff and appointed committees and held many meetings to define fishing, to defend fishing, to decide what new streams should be thought about.
But the staff and committee members did not fish.
Large, elaborate, and expensive training centres were built whose original and primary purpose was to teach fishermen how to fish. Over the years courses were offered on the needs of the fish, the nature of fish, how to define fish, the psychological reactions of fish, and how to approach and feed fish. Those who taught had doctorates in "fishology."
But the teachers did not fish. They only taught fishing.
Further, the fishermen built large printing houses to publish fishing guides. Presses were kept busy day and night to produce materials solely devoted to fishing methods, equipment, and programs, to arrange and encourage meetings, to talk about fishing. A speakers' bureau was also provided to schedule special speakers on the subject of fishing.
After one stirring meeting on "The Necessity of Fishing," one young fellow left the meeting and went fishing. The next day he reported that he had caught two outstanding fish.
He was honored for his excellent catch and scheduled to visit all the big meetings possible to tell how he did it. So he quit his fishing in order to have time to tell about the experience to the other fishermen. He was also placed on the Fisherman's General Board as a person having considerable experience.
Jesus said "I will make you fishers of men"
Have you been fishing lately?
This year our beloved Local Education Authority decided to put the two week Easter school holiday before Easter so it was back to work in a hurry on Easter Tuesday!!
Hence the long break in the blog - blame it on post Easter chocolate poisoning!!
So what's with the title - well over the last few weeks we've been learning about "Lifeshapes" a resource developed by Walt Kallestad and Mike Breen (former Rector of St Thomas' Church, Crookes, Sheffield).
The shapes are simple - you'll find a summary here - but they really help in living a Jesus-centred life.
Today we were thinking about the Triangle and about a truly balanced Christian life -
Up - our relationship with God - how we worship, pray, and learn to be God's friends
In - our relationships with each other - how we show love for one another in the church family
Out - our relationship with the world - how we share the good news of God's love with others
At All Saints we've been thinking about how these relate to us
UP - the word was "Listen" - we need to learn how to listen to God, not just telling Him what we think but taking time to listen to Him and what He says
IN - the word was "Love" - obvious but not easy - Loving everyone, even people that you really don't like - "Love your enemies" Jesus said - easy to say but to do it...
OUT - the word was "Go" - again obvious but have a read of the following story
Now it came to pass that a group existed who called themselves fishermen. And lo, there were many fish in the waters all around. In fact, the whole area was surrounded by streams and lakes filled with fish. And the fish were hungry.
Week after week, month after month, and year after year, those who called themselves fishermen met in meetings and talked about their call to fish, the abundance of fish, and how they might go about fishing. Year after year, they carefully defined what fishing means, defended fishing as an occupation, and declared that fishing is always to be a primary task of fishermen.
These fishermen built large, beautiful buildings for local fishing headquarters. The plea was that everyone should be a fisherman and every fisherman should fish.
One thing they didn't do, however; they didn't fish.
In addition to meeting regularly, they organized a board to send out fishermen to other places where there were many fish. The board was formed by those who had the great vision and courage to speak about fishing, to define fishing, to promote the idea of fishing in faraway streams and lakes where many other fish of different colors lived. Also the board hired staff and appointed committees and held many meetings to define fishing, to defend fishing, to decide what new streams should be thought about.
But the staff and committee members did not fish.
Large, elaborate, and expensive training centres were built whose original and primary purpose was to teach fishermen how to fish. Over the years courses were offered on the needs of the fish, the nature of fish, how to define fish, the psychological reactions of fish, and how to approach and feed fish. Those who taught had doctorates in "fishology."
But the teachers did not fish. They only taught fishing.
Further, the fishermen built large printing houses to publish fishing guides. Presses were kept busy day and night to produce materials solely devoted to fishing methods, equipment, and programs, to arrange and encourage meetings, to talk about fishing. A speakers' bureau was also provided to schedule special speakers on the subject of fishing.
After one stirring meeting on "The Necessity of Fishing," one young fellow left the meeting and went fishing. The next day he reported that he had caught two outstanding fish.
He was honored for his excellent catch and scheduled to visit all the big meetings possible to tell how he did it. So he quit his fishing in order to have time to tell about the experience to the other fishermen. He was also placed on the Fisherman's General Board as a person having considerable experience.
Jesus said "I will make you fishers of men"
Have you been fishing lately?
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Thinking outside the box!
Easter!
I like Easter. Perhaps more than Christmas now that I'm all grown up and have to worry about how much presents cost rather than how quickly I can unwrap them all!
I think what I like best is that I can disentangle in my own mind the whole eggs, chocolate, bunny, chick, daffodil thing from the events just outside Jerusalem at the time of the Jewish Passover sometime around 33AD. At Christmas things get all jumbled up, but for me Easter is clear.
We celebrate the fact that Jesus is alive. That despite the best efforts of many people to put an end to Him, God's love proved to be stronger, stronger even than death.
I know he's alive because I've met him - that might make me sound mad, but it's true, and All Saints Church is full of people who would tell you the same thing.
My views on the alternative Easter images is summed up in the poster below which is produced by CPO
Now is a good time to find out who can!!
Happy Easter!
I like Easter. Perhaps more than Christmas now that I'm all grown up and have to worry about how much presents cost rather than how quickly I can unwrap them all!
I think what I like best is that I can disentangle in my own mind the whole eggs, chocolate, bunny, chick, daffodil thing from the events just outside Jerusalem at the time of the Jewish Passover sometime around 33AD. At Christmas things get all jumbled up, but for me Easter is clear.
We celebrate the fact that Jesus is alive. That despite the best efforts of many people to put an end to Him, God's love proved to be stronger, stronger even than death.
I know he's alive because I've met him - that might make me sound mad, but it's true, and All Saints Church is full of people who would tell you the same thing.
My views on the alternative Easter images is summed up in the poster below which is produced by CPO
Now is a good time to find out who can!!
Happy Easter!
Friday, April 14, 2006
What's so good about "Good Friday"?
This year more than any other I've been asked this question, mainly by the younger members of our church or those visiting. Why is it "Good" Friday?
The thing to remember is that it is our name, referring to our view of the day. That first Good Friday was not a good day. 3 men executed, one on seemingly trumped up charges, the curtain in the temple torn in two (See here for a reference), a man expected to be the saviour of his people dead and buried, betrayed by one of his own and deserted by everyone except a few weeping women, one close friend and his mother.
There is no easy way to say this - Jesus died in utter agony. Crucifixion was THE most painful way to die, and he had been flogged half to death first. Add to that what we blieve was happening - that all the powers of darkness and hell vented their fury on Him - what was happening in the visible world - the nails, the lash, the pain, the darkness - were echoes of what was happening also in the spiritual world - the whole weight of our sin, our wrongdoing, taken out on Him by the powers of evil.
But why then Good Friday - because of one word Jesus spoke - in english it is rendered "It is finished" - in the original language of Jesus' day known as Koine (Coynay) Greek it is one word "tetelestai" (te-te-less-tay). It was a word written on a bill which had been settled - it can also be rendered "paid in full"
Somehow Jesus paid the price of our sin - he broke down the wall which our wrongdoing had built between us and God, he opened the way for us to know the love of God again.
It wasn't "Good" for Him, it was "Good" for us.
Because of His death we can know forgiveness and a chance for a new start!
Indeed Good Friday!
The thing to remember is that it is our name, referring to our view of the day. That first Good Friday was not a good day. 3 men executed, one on seemingly trumped up charges, the curtain in the temple torn in two (See here for a reference), a man expected to be the saviour of his people dead and buried, betrayed by one of his own and deserted by everyone except a few weeping women, one close friend and his mother.
There is no easy way to say this - Jesus died in utter agony. Crucifixion was THE most painful way to die, and he had been flogged half to death first. Add to that what we blieve was happening - that all the powers of darkness and hell vented their fury on Him - what was happening in the visible world - the nails, the lash, the pain, the darkness - were echoes of what was happening also in the spiritual world - the whole weight of our sin, our wrongdoing, taken out on Him by the powers of evil.
But why then Good Friday - because of one word Jesus spoke - in english it is rendered "It is finished" - in the original language of Jesus' day known as Koine (Coynay) Greek it is one word "tetelestai" (te-te-less-tay). It was a word written on a bill which had been settled - it can also be rendered "paid in full"
Somehow Jesus paid the price of our sin - he broke down the wall which our wrongdoing had built between us and God, he opened the way for us to know the love of God again.
It wasn't "Good" for Him, it was "Good" for us.
Because of His death we can know forgiveness and a chance for a new start!
Indeed Good Friday!
A towel, a plate, a cup and a Traitor
Well! Finally a chance to reflect on the Easter weekend.
Thursday evening found us sat around a low table set for 13. We remembered Jesus' words and actions as he washed his disciples feet, as they enjoyed God's goodness as they remembered His rescuing His people from Egypt and as Jesus took bread and wine and gave it incredible significance.
What always strikes me on Maundy Thursday is that Jesus did all this BEFORE Judas left to betray him - at least that is the way I read the Gospel accounts. Jesus washed Judas' feet, gave Judas the great signs of God's mercy.
All the disciples ran, Peter's denial was as much a betrayal as Judas. The only difference was Judas decided to take his future into his own hands, Peter stayed long enough to discover Jesus' version of Peter's future!!
Thursday evening found us sat around a low table set for 13. We remembered Jesus' words and actions as he washed his disciples feet, as they enjoyed God's goodness as they remembered His rescuing His people from Egypt and as Jesus took bread and wine and gave it incredible significance.
What always strikes me on Maundy Thursday is that Jesus did all this BEFORE Judas left to betray him - at least that is the way I read the Gospel accounts. Jesus washed Judas' feet, gave Judas the great signs of God's mercy.
All the disciples ran, Peter's denial was as much a betrayal as Judas. The only difference was Judas decided to take his future into his own hands, Peter stayed long enough to discover Jesus' version of Peter's future!!
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