Loyal radical

I will upload the recording after the service on Sunday. Meanwhile here are the thoughts for discussion What makes us fearful about the future? How ever optimistic we are, fear plays a lesser or greater part in our thinking about the future. We fear what we do not know. The art of living confidently is to acknowledge fear when it creeps in rather than deny it. By acknowledging it we go some way to robbing fear of its power over us. What do we fear about the future of our church? How much is that mind-set controlling our thoughts and attitudes? How do we meet fear with Faith? How is Faith different from clutching at straws? How can we build each other up in faith? Mary could not have gone through with God’s plan without the support of Joseph. When events take an unexpected turn do we look for others who will support us? How do we support without patronising them by either over simplifying their concern or by sharing a defeatist attitude? Joseph’s response was changed by a dream...

The title for week 3 is 'Knit together in the Spirit'. Unfortunately the recording this week didn't work, but you could ask Jenny for a copy to read if you missed it like I did. Jenny encouraged us to consider our own giftedness and passion. She suggested that what we need is to have faith in what we too, have to offer. Each of us at the Chapel has something slightly different and special to offer. A special passion. I can’t tell you what your passion   is. You have to get your Bible open, and listen with your contemplative mind, to still small voice within you. Ruth told me last week, that her special gift is to pray. WOW what a gift. It might be that your gift at this time, is to send a card, or a message of encouragement; Your gift might be listening; or hospitality; or friendship; or teaching; or creativity. The message of Christmas is that as we offer, and trust our gift…AND USE IT, God will come very close. 3 challenges as we clo...

John leading with humility – he must become more important while I become less important John 3.30 Listen to the sermon here NB You don't have to sign up with a dropbox account to download Coming expectantly How do we maintain our spiritual energy?   What depletes us and what energises us? The Jews who came from Jerusalem to meet John were looking for something. They were spiritually hungry. Did they go away satisfied? How about us? What difference has meeting Christ made? Transformation – Trans – across (beyond) Formation – To create, bring into being. Paul says we should be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2) What does that mean? Making way for others. What blockages are there to God’s spirit at work in us? What do you make of John’s acknowledgement above(John 3:30 ) How can we learn to co-operate and not compete? What do we feel when our ideas are not the ones to be progressed? Ego has been defined as E dging G od O ut. Can you reflect on occasions w...

With Steve and Jenny planned as our preaches we are taking the opportunity to use the Sundays of Advent to follow a series. It is based on Richard Rohr’s book ‘Preparing for Christmas’ Jenny has a few copies for sale at £3 if you would like to buy the book which gives daily mediations for Advent. If you missed one of the series or want to listen again use the link here For reflection What do I feel is my special message to deliver to the world? My reason for being alive in a nutshell. To work out how to let yourself deliver your special message, during Advent this year pay particular attention to: 1.        listening to God E.g. notice in spiritual reading, which words of Scripture~ (or in poetry, e.t.c.) are speaking to you.In the silence in your prayers before God, listen to your intuition of what God is saying lovingly back to you. Notice which of your daily attitudes and activities increase in you a sense of faith, hope and love in you (lift ...

 The recent welcome service for Peter Bennett, the new minister based in Newbury, was led by Andrew Wood, the Chair of District. In his sermon he reflected on the call of Jeremiah. At his call God asked the question of Jeremiah, “What do you see”? It seems an odd question to ask a prophet and his observations don’t immediately seem to have much relevance. Jeremiah sees an almond tree and a boiling pot tipping away from the North. Both observations come from the rural environment in which he was living. Good observations are a vital part of any attempt to address the situation in which we find ourselves.  If we don’t observe we will never learn what is going on in the area in which we live and work.   So what do you see? As with Jeremiah what we see may not give us an obvious strategy or vision, but it is an essential part of being receptive.  Peter and the congregations at Newbury and Thatcham are being encouraged to look with fresh eyes at their situation. We a...

The picture opposite is of a colourful display of spring crocuses from a friends garden. Early spring flowers are such a treat after the drabness of winter. They lift our spirits and encourage optimism. A similar transformation takes place as we move through Holy Week. The darkness of betrayal, denial and death are replaced on Easter Day with excitement , wonder and joy. These contrasts in life are very important and are necessary to help us appreciate the depth of sorrow and the height of joy. As I write this we are all reeling from the sadness of the recent plane crash with 150 lives lost. The media is quick to give us the personal stories of both loss and narrow escape. The school mourning the death of sixteen pupils and two teachers returning from an oversubscribed exchange is just one of the many that touches us with great sorrow and pain. The gift of human empathy is a precious response to such news and should never be underrated or dismissed as mere thankfulness that it w...

Lent simply means length and it marks the 40 days (excluding Sundays) from Ash Wednesday until Easter day. This 40 day period which is often associated with fasting and self-denial is a preparation time for the great celebration of Easter. We can’t have the highs without experiencing the lows, otherwise there would be nothing to contrast the two. In the lectionary (Year B) we journey with Jesus through his wilderness experience to his interview before Pilate, laced with foreboding conversations along the way. This contrasts with the ‘light relief’ of the wedding at Cana on the third Sunday in Lent. Highs and lows teach us to be grateful for the good times and help us negotiate the dark ones. Today I have taken the funeral of a full term still born baby. It is hard when grief is so raw it feels uncontainable. Families grieving can’t make sense of their emotions let alone the circumstances that have led them there. All we can do in such circumstances is to be there. Of course it is not ...

This is the title of a book by Debra Meyerson in which she explores the characteristics of such individuals and their role within organisations. I am drawn to this work partly by the title which resonates with how I see myself, but also to the fact that it defines the role of such individuals within organisations. Debra draws attention to the word tempered and reminds us of the use of this word in relation to the process of hardening steel through heating and rapidly cooling. She also refers to the definition of tempered as being ‘in balance’. By this she infers that the individual concerned is neither extreme nor innocuous, but provides a catalyst for action. One of the roles that Tempered Radicals can facilitate is that of negotiator. She suggests that there are four stages that can help negotiation, 1. Stepping back. This is a way of looking at the bigger picture to help promote understanding. This is particularly helpful when the situation feels like a personal attack. Externali...

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES We have just welcomed in the New Year with all its associated reflections and predications. Much is made of the political landscape as commentators put their spin on the outcome of the general election later in the year. The NHS is bound to play a large part in the way parties promote themselves. One of the current debates was sparked by a decision by the New Devon Clinical Commissioning Group to restrict elective procedures for smokers and the obese to those who show commitment to addressing their condition before surgery. The decision has since been overturned because of the fear that this represented rationing by the back door and jeopardised the commitment to equitable care for all without conditions. The issue raises the fundamental question about rights and responsibilities. Is it right that the tax payer should fund expensive procedures where there is not a corresponding responsibility from the individual to care for themselves, both pre and post op...