Loyal radical

RACHEL'S WELCOME On Tuesday 23 August we had a very joyful and uplifting welcome to our new Superintendent minister, Rachel Borgars. The District Chair, Andrew Wood, gave the address reflecting on the two passages that had been read earlier. The one from Isaiah 61 reminds us of Jesus’ own mission statement which he declared at the synagogue in Nazareth. This was to preach good news, proclaim deliverance, release the oppressed and give recovery of sight to the blind. The other reading was from Acts 2 when the people responded to the coming of the Spirit and formed the first Christian community. Both readings include an invitation to action. The good news of God’s love does not generate a passive response, it requires action. Of course we have to be careful that we don’t just busy ourselves and thus feel we are fulfilling our purpose as Christian disciples. Busyness is sometimes an excuse for not getting on with the important things in life. Rachel reflected on her Quaker upbringi...

Light and dark are favourite metaphors for the Christian faith because they vividly illustrate the contrast between good and evil, faith and unbelief. Sight is fundamental to our understanding of the world, which is why we often talk about understanding in visual terms ‘I see‘, can mean I comprehend. I watched a programme this week about the brain and how it functions. It is amazing to consider the complexity and inter-relatedness of our brains. After neurological damage the brain is able to adapt so that different parts take up the function of the damaged area. They also showed how the brain can be trained to decode messages from unfamiliar stimulation. Training our senses to become more aware is part of the ongoing process of learning. This is no less true about our spiritual journey. Fasting is one such method some people use to tune into the experience of life. This discipline can help in raising spiritual awareness. The forty days in the wilderness were Christ’s training ...

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...