Tag: Community

Second Sunday of Advent

7th December 2025

Reflection with readings below

This week saplings that have been grown from seeds collected from the sycamore gap tree after it was rudely felled, have been distributed around the country. Places chosen to receive these symbols of new life have included the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, the Woodcraft Folk’s youth campsite, the West End Women and Girls Centre in Newcastle, the Treetops Hospice, Rhiwbina Primary School, the Goan Welfare Society, and Thames Valley Police HQ. The constituent parts of a good society are varied and diverse. 

Today’s reading from Isaiah also talks about a new shoot – a sign of new growth, of life springing up a new.  This shoot Isaiah foretells, will create a new era,  a new society where life will flourish. This new  will be shaped by justice,  equity, peace and harmony. Who wouldn’t want such a future for them and their children and their children’s children?

This last week has seen two different aspects of the climate crisis. One was the National Emergency Briefing held in London when ten top scientists and other experts addressed an audience of MPs (sadly only 80 turned up), peers, faith leaders, members of the press and others. Over the three hours concise arguments were presented as to why the government and those in authority should be paying serious attention to the emergency we are facing and to address the crisis with the same urgency and comprehensive engagement that was used during the Second World War. For anyone wanting to hear what was said, a full recording of the morning is available on YouTube.

The other were the horrendous floods and mudslides in Indonesia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka that have engulfed so many communities, washing away so many homes and livelihoods and depriving over 1300 people of their lives. This and similar highly destructive storms in the preceding weeks that affected the Philippines, Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba, have all been intensified by climate change. 

Whether it is here in the UK or in the tropical parts of the world, we need to rebuild and reshape the infrastructure of our lives and economies. We need to build for greater resilience and we need to dismantle our dependency on oil and gas. We need to ensure strong caring communities. We need to ensure economic justice and equity. We need to restore harmony with the Earth, living sustainably within its natural limits.

We need to hear afresh the words of John the Baptist, “Prepare the way of the Lord!”

Isaiah 11:1-10

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 

The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 

His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.

He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide by what his ears hear; 

but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; 

he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 

Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
and faithfulness the belt around his loins. 

The wolf shall live with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid, 

the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
and a little child shall lead them. 

The cow and the bear shall graze,
their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the
ox. 

The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. 

They will not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain; 

for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.

On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19

1 Give the King your justice, O God, *
and your righteousness to the King’s Son;

2 That he may rule your people righteously *
and the poor with justice;

3 That the mountains may bring prosperity to the people, *
and the little hills bring righteousness.

4 He shall defend the needy among the people; *
he shall rescue the poor and crush the oppressor.

5 He shall live as long as the sun and moon endure, *
from one generation to another.

6 He shall come down like rain upon the mown field, *
like showers that water the earth.

7 In his time shall the righteous flourish; *
there shall be abundance of peace till the moon shall be no more.

18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, *
who alone does wondrous deeds!

19 And blessed be his glorious Name for ever! *
and may all the earth be filled with his glory.
Amen. Amen.

Romans 15:4-13

Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

“Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles,
and sing praises to your name”;

and again he says,

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people”;

and again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and let all the peoples praise him”;

and again Isaiah says,

“The root of Jesse shall come,
the one who rises to rule the Gentiles;
in him the Gentiles shall hope.”

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 3:1-12

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, 

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.’” 

Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptised by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 

“I baptise you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Feast of All Saints

2nd November 2025

Reflection with readings below

All Saints tide is a time for celebrating what it is to be a holy community, a community shaped by God. It is a community that stretches back to the beginning of time when God first created living beings. It is a community that encompasses both past generations and the generations to come.

Each generation has in turn taken from and given back to the earth with the intention of passing on a better future for the generations to come.  Each generation has been guided by sages and prophets – by those who have learnt from the past,  by those who can see into the future and by those in tune with the wisdom of God. Not every generation has succeeded in passing on a better life to their offspring, but overtime we can see how life has improved for many people.

However now in the first few decades of the 21st century, human greed and folly – and to an extent – human ignorance, look set to hand onto our children and our children’s children, a much more depleted, more polluted, more damaged world than our parents handed onto us. 

Of the nine planetary boundaries that ensure a comfortable and sustainable existence, seven have been exceeded. In terms of climate change we are now heading for 2C of heating and ever increasing extreme weather events. In terms of the oceans, acidity levels and rising temperatures are already causing the bleaching of coral reefs. In terms of water systems, over extraction of ground water, shifting rainfall patterns and loss of glaciers is already leading to water shortages. Many parts of the world had seen significant losses of biodiversity which is leading to the collapse of ecosystems that maintain soil fertility, ensure clean air and water, pollinate crops etc. Of the various novel chemicals we have introduced, plastic nano particles are now to be found in very part of the planet from the icecaps of mountains to the bottom of ocean trenches, and even in the cells in our bodies. And all this is due to human activity. 

What is perhaps more distressing is that most people are either unaware or unconcerned about this! 

The Letter to the Ephesians talks about the inheritance we have received in Christ. The gospel that Jesus taught, the power of healing that he brought, the gifts of wisdom that he shared, weren’t just for that generation but for all generations. The gospel message is even today the hope of salvation, the hope that we can turn things around and hand on to the next generations a world that is being healed and restored. And we must make sure that that message is heard, that that wisdom is relearnt, and that the damage we have caused is healed. 

The words of today’s Gospel – the Beatitudes – is a reminder how far apart God’s ways and humanity’s ways have become. And how radically we must change direction. “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.” 

How can we find ways of putting these directions into practice? How can we find ways – with stories and parables, with positive actions – to enthuse others to hear and respond? How can we transform a whole generation? The church,  as Jesus’s agents of change, has a lot of work to do! 

Let’s sing praises to God as we celebrate All Saints Tide, as we celebrate all who have gone before us. And let’s pray for God’s blessing as we determine to pass on a goodly inheritance to the generations to come.

Daniel 7:1-3,15-18

In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head as he lay in bed. Then he wrote down the dream: I, Daniel, saw in my vision by night the four winds of heaven stirring up the great sea, and four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. 

As for me, Daniel, my spirit was troubled within me, and the visions of my head terrified me. I approached one of the attendants to ask him the truth concerning all this. So he said that he would disclose to me the interpretation of the matter: “As for these four great beasts, four kings shall arise out of the earth. But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom for ever—for ever and ever.”

Psalm 149

1 Hallelujah!
Sing to the Lord a new song; *
sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.

2 Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; *
let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

3 Let them praise his Name in the dance; *
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.

4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people *
and adorns the poor with victory.

5 Let the faithful rejoice in triumph; *
let them be joyful on their beds.

6 Let the praises of God be in their throat *
and a two-edged sword in their hand;

7 To wreak vengeance on the nations *
and punishment on the peoples;

8 To bind their kings in chains *
and their nobles with links of iron;

9 To inflict on them the judgment decreed; *
this is glory for all his faithful people.
Hallelujah!

Ephesians 1:11-23

In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.

I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Luke 6:20-31

Jesus looked up at his disciples and said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.

“Blessed are you who are hungry now,
for you will be filled. 

“Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh. 

“Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.” 

“But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation. 

“Woe to you who are full now,
for you will be hungry. 

“Woe to you who are laughing now,
for you will mourn and weep. 

“Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.

“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Proper 18, 12th Sunday after Trinity

7th September 2025

Reflection with readings below 

Today’s gospel has a hard hitting message: “Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple… So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.”

What does it mean? 

We know from the Book of Acts that for the first Christians it was about sharing what they had in common so that no one in their community went with out. It meant meeting regularly for prayer. It meant healing those who were sick, taking care of the widows – and all those who were particularly vulnerable. It meant preaching the same message that Jesus had preached: honour God and love your neighbour with all your being; release those held captive, free those who are oppressed; don’t hoard your wealth for gain; put your trust in God – share what you have with those in need; challenge those in authority when they make life hard for the vulnerable, when they make doing the right thing impossible; be prepared to put yourself in the firing line when those in authority or those with vested interests, fight back. 

Time and again, the Book of Acts tells us how the disciples did challenge those in authority when they tried to disrupt the gospel message; that the disciples did end up in prison because they would not stop speaking God’s truth; that some of them were rounded up and persecuted; that some of them were killed for the sake of the gospel. But at the same time that Book of Acts tells us that thousands and thousands were drawn to become followers of Jesus because of the gospel message being preached by word and deed. People spoke in admiration of the love and care being demonstrated by the new Christian communities; of their willingness share their resources and hold things in common; that through their actions people were healed and restored to life. The Letters of St Paul reveal to us the growth of new Christian communities across the Mediterranean region, communities that were marked out by their inclusivity; communities that regularly met for worship and to share meals, that sought to learn more about the gospel of Jesus – what it meant and how to put it into practice; communities that prayed for each other and shared their resources, aiding far distant communities when their brethren faced hardships.

When we are asked to take up our cross, Is it a calling to sell up everything? To go and work for a refugee charity or a homeless charity? To put our bodies on the line by walking into a conflict zone? To devote our lives to walking the length and breadth of the country preaching the gospel? For some of us, yes. 

Is it a calling to live counter culturally, to resist buying the next status accessory, to resist flying or driving an SUV, to avoid companies that exploit their employees or their supply chains, that disregard care for the environment, that recklessly emit greenhouse gases?  Yes!

Is it a calling to resist judging people according to their race or faith or wealth or gender or age? To not to joke about or disparage such differences? But rather to welcome and affirm everyone as beloved by God? Yes!

Is it to inform ourselves about the ways in which we can replace unjust systems with ones that care and protect the environment, that care and protect the vulnerable? Yes!

Is it a calling to speak out against injustice, to challenge those in authority, to speak truth to power? Yes!

 Is it a calling to step outside of our comfort zone and take action to support those who are persecuted, the vulnerable and the marginalised? Yes!

Taking up the cross is letting go of all that constrains us or ties us into a state of inaction. Taking up the cross is resisting popularist culture that derides and negates God’s will. Taking up the cross means repeatedly reassessing our thoughts and actions – ‘Are they aligned with God’s will?’ and seeking strength and insight through a prayerful relationship with God. Taking up the cross is to be part of a loving, lively, joyful company of fellow followers of Christ. It is to be part of a loving, caring and nurturing community. It is a calling that offers moments of deep peace.

Earlier this week Christian Climate Action published a vision document calling on the Church to recover its original charisma. Entitled “Stop Crucifying Creation” it is a “call to the Church to exemplify radical and transformative Christian living in the face of climate collapse.”  It is a call to take up the cross! 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iDHUJW1RXQmbX1ik_YvkgqowHTnrwqkw/view?usp=drivesdk

Jeremiah 18:1-11

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Come, go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as seemed good to him. 

Then the word of the Lord came to me: Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done? says the Lord. Just like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. At one moment I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, but if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will change my mind about the disaster that I intended to bring on it. And at another moment I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, but if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will change my mind about the good that I had intended to do to it. Now, therefore, say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Thus says the Lord: Look, I am a potter shaping evil against you and devising a plan against you. Turn now, all of you from your evil way, and amend your ways and your doings.

Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17

1 Lord, you have searched me out and known me; *
you know my sitting down and my rising up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.

2 You trace my journeys and my resting-places *
and are acquainted with all my ways.

3 Indeed, there is not a word on my lips, *
but you, O Lord, know it altogether.

4 You press upon me behind and before *
and lay your hand upon me.

5 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; *
it is so high that I cannot attain to it.

12 For you yourself created my inmost parts; *
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

13 I will thank you because I am marvellously made; *
your works are wonderful, and I know it well.

14 My body was not hidden from you, *
while I was being made in secret
and woven in the depths of the earth.

15 Your eyes beheld my limbs, yet unfinished in the womb;
all of them were written in your book; *
they were fashioned day by day,
when as yet there was none of them.

16 How deep I find your thoughts, O God! *
how great is the sum of them!

17 If I were to count them, they would be more in number than the sand; *
to count them all, my life span would need to be like yours.

Philemon 1-21

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus. I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ. I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.

For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love– and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother– especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

Luke 14:25-33

Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus; and he turned and said to them, “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, `This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.”

For a better tomorrow 

28th June 2025

I will pour out My Spirit on all people.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your elders will dream dreams,  your youth will see visions. Joel 2:28

You Lord, are the source of all good things: 

We praise you.

You call us to tend and care for your creation: 

May we strive to do your will.

You have made us as brothers and sisters with all that lives: 

May we live together in peace.

Acts 4: 42-47 – See! Together we can create a better world.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. A sense of awe came over everyone, and the apostles performed many wonders and signs. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need.

With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

I pray that tomorrow the seas will be full of fish 

and whales, seahorses and turtles, 

whilst the skies above throng with a whole gamut of sea birds. 

I pray that tomorrow the fields will be full of flowers, 

and the air buzzing with insects, whilst the hedgerows 

 thrill with the dancing of butterflies.

I pray that tomorrow’s streets will be full of children at play 

and old people chatting, passing the time of day,

whilst cyclists weave carefully through the mix.

I pray that tomorrow houses will twinkle with solar panels,

and hum with heat pumps, whilst insulation 

mitigates the ‘way too hot’ and the ‘way too cold’.

I pray that tomorrow, our futures look bright, 

and our children secure, whilst we relish 

the satisfaction that we can live in harmony with all. 

Amen. 

Proper 7, 1st Sunday after Trinity

22nd June 2025

Reflection with readings below

Today’s readings from the First Testament encourage us to turn to God, to seek God’s help in times of strife – and goodness are we not in a world best by strife? Turning to to God in prayer is a sound response. 

Why? Because you will find strength and comfort through articulating and sharing your concerns with God. Because prayer helps us understand and to increase our awareness of the issue and of ways in which we might be part of the solution. 

Paul’s letter to the Galatians is a timely reminder that we are all equally created by God. God does not divide people into groups that are honoured or despised, more important or less important, more loved or less loved. Any divisions we see are human-made. The passage should also remind us that God, having made all created things, saw that they were all good. Not just humans but creatures too. Not just humans, but plants too. Not just humans, but ecosystems too. When we elevate ourselves above the rest of creation, seeing ourselves as more honoured, more important and more beloved by God, then we become careless and destructive, greedy and thoughtless – we become the cause of harm and violence, damaging and destroying the world in which we live. As baptised Christians, we all called to treat all with equality and consideration and love.

Today’s gospel is a wonderful story of compassion and healing, of freedom and new beginnings. It is also a story about community and togetherness. 

What is the difference between the words ‘ill’ and ‘well’? The former is begins with ‘I’ and the letter with ‘we’. Isolated, focused only on ourself and our own needs: we are ill. Together we can support and nurture one another; we consider the needs of our group and we gain from what the group offers; we are well.

In this story we Jesus as the transformative agent who releases Legion from all that ensares him, then he restores him not just to his right mind but to his community. Can we follow this example? Can we help  release people from fears and systems that trap them? Can we restore communities, ensuring everyone is included and made welcome? Can we restore relations not just with people but with creatures and plants? Can we restore damaged ecosystems re-establishing sustainable relationships between all component parts? 

Isaiah 65:1-9

I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask,
to be found by those who did not seek me. 

I said, “Here I am, here I am,”
to a nation that did not call on my name. 

I held out my hands all day long to a rebellious people,

who walk in a way that is not good,
following their own devices; 

a people who provoke me
to my face continually, 

sacrificing in gardens
and offering incense on bricks; 

who sit inside tombs,
and spend the night in secret places; 

who eat swine’s flesh,
with broth of abominable things in their vessels; 

who say, “Keep to yourself,
do not come near me, for I am too holy for you.” 

These are a smoke in my nostrils,
a fire that burns all day long. 

See, it is written before me:
I will not keep silent, but I will repay; 

I will indeed repay into their laps
their iniquities and their ancestors’ iniquities together,

says the Lord; 

because they offered incense on the mountains
and reviled me on the hills, 

I will measure into their laps
full payment for their actions. 

Thus says the Lord:

As the wine is found in the cluster,
and they say, “Do not destroy it,
for there is a blessing in it,” 

so I will do for my servants’ sake,
and not destroy them all. 

I will bring forth descendants from Jacob,
and from Judah inheritors of my mountains; 

my chosen shall inherit it,
and my servants shall settle there.

Psalm 22:18-27

18 Be not far away, O Lord; *
you are my strength; hasten to help me.

19 Save me from the sword, *
my life from the power of the dog.

20 Save me from the lion’s mouth, *
my wretched body from the horns of wild bulls.

21 I will declare your Name to my brethren; *
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.

22 Praise the Lord, you that fear him; *
stand in awe of him, O offspring of Israel;
all you of Jacob’s line, give glory.

23 For he does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty;
neither does he hide his face from them; *
but when they cry to him he hears them.

24 My praise is of him in the great assembly; *
I will perform my vows in the presence of those who worship him.

25 The poor shall eat and be satisfied,
and those who seek the Lord shall praise him: *
“May your heart live for ever!”

26 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, *
and all the families of the nations shall bow before him.

27 For kingship belongs to the Lord; *
he rules over the nations.

Galatians 3:23-29

Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.

Luke 8:26-39

Jesus and his disciples arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me” — for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him. They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.

Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.

Counting on … day 68

22nd May 2025

Depending where you live, you may have easy access to a library of things meaning if you need a power drill, or a sewing machine, a wood plane or a fish kettle, you can borrow one for a small fee. And thus avoiding spending far more on something you may only use once. That is good for sustainability and potentially increases resilience in the event of a crisis. It can also nurture structures and habits that makes for a resilient community – a community that can look after each other. 

https://www.cagoxfordshire.org.uk/library-of-things
https://www.libraryofthings.co.uk/

4th Sunday of Easter

11th May 2025

Reflection with readings below

Shepherds and sheep represent an interesting communal dynamic. A good shepherd is the one who knows both the way the flock behaves as a group and the characteristics of the individual sheep, the particular needs of the sheep and how that interacts with the  lie of the land and the time of year.

For the sheep there is their trusting relationship with the shepherd, as well as internal dynamics within the flock. Sheep are communal beings with strong social bonds,  often with a hierarchy led by a matriarch. Sheep will protect each, banding together to see off predators. Additionally the older sheep have a knowledge of the land  – the boundaries of their territory, where the best grass is, where to shelter in a  storm – and this localised knowledge is something they will pass on to their offspring.

Both the Psalmist and Jesus use the imagery of sheep and shepherd to describe the relationship that God desires to have with people. If we pay attention to God, stay alert to hear what God is telling us, if we follow where God leads – then God’s loving care for us will keep us safe. We benefit from God’s wisdom. The alternative scenario where we ignore God – ignoring what God is saying to us, ignoring where God is leading us – and end up falling into situations of harm and danger.

But Jesus’s teachings – and indeed much of the teachings of the Hebrew Scriptures – emphasises the importance of being a community that looks after each other (including the orphan, the widow and the alien).  God has created humans to live together as a flock, supporting and caring for each other.

In the first reading today, we hear the story of Dorcas and how much she is loved and revered by her community, and how much she has given to that community. This community is very much an example of a flock of sheep – one with Jesus as its Good Shepherd. 

Recently I joined a Green Christian zoom workshop on intentional communities. Part of the discussion highlighted that the climate crisis that we are facing is already changing weather patterns and putting us all at risk of the extreme events that upset daily life – floods, storms, heat waves, power cuts, food and water shortages, damage to buildings, disruption to transport and communications etc. In such situations there is clearly a benefit in having strong communities which care for each other, and localised communities that can be a source of local food, energy, support and comfort. And one hopes that Christian groups would be ideally placed to create and nurture such resilient communities. Following the parables of Jesus’s teachings we might even see church buildings as the equivalent of a sheep fold.

Acts 9:36-43

Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner. 

Psalm 23 

1 The  Lord is my shepherd; *
I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures *
and leads me beside still waters.

3 He revives my soul *
and guides me along right pathways for his Name’s sake.

4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; *
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; *
you have anointed my head with oil,
and my cup is running over.

6 Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, *
and I will dwell in the house of the  Lord for ever.

Revelation 7:9-17

I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, 

“Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing, 

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom

and thanksgiving and honour

and power and might

be to our God forever and ever!
Amen.”

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

For this reason they are before the throne of God,
and worship him day and night within his temple,
and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.

They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;
the sun will not strike them,
nor any scorching heat; 

for the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, 

and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

John 10:22-30

At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”

Thanksgiving for food and meals

25th January 2025

Trust in the Lord and be doing good; dwell in the land and be nourished with truth.
 Let your delight be in the Lord and he will give you your heart’s desire.
Commit your way to the Lord and put your trust in him, and he will bring it to pass. Psalm 37:3-5

You Lord are the bread of life;

feed us with your wisdom.

Our meat is to do the Father’s  will.

guide us in all we do

Whenever we eat or drink

Let it be to the glory of God.

Reading Mark 6: 38-44 ( from The Message)

But he was quite serious. “How many loaves of bread do you have? Take an inventory.”

That didn’t take long. “Five,” they said, “plus two fish.”

 Jesus got them all to sit down in groups of fifty or a hundred—they looked like a patchwork quilt of wildflowers spread out on the green grass! He took the five loaves and two fish, lifted his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread to the disciples, and the disciples in turn gave it to the people. He did the same with the fish. They all ate their fill. The disciples gathered twelve baskets of leftovers. More than five thousand were at the supper.  

Table Piece

Around the table, smallest to largest, 

youngest to oldest – comfortable and companionable.

Bread, first mixed and kneaded, 

shared together at the table.

Wisdom, debated and pondered,

gathered from around the table. 

Gentle chiding, loving acceptance, laughter –

differences reconciled at the table.

Thanks given, prayers said, hands clasped 

a place of worship at the table.

Kith and kin, friends – all welcome: love 

a community built around the table.

Prayers

We give thanks O Lord, for the food we have to eat, 

for the opportunities we have to eat together, 

for the times we gather to share and  learn, 

and for the joy of worshipping at your table. 

We pray Lord, for all who struggle to get food to eat, 

all who lack the companionship of friends and family, 

all who are exploited and all who are fall prey to disinformation, 

and for all who have yet to feel included at you table. 

Stir us Lord, to respond with generosity and determination 

to feed the hungry, 

to transform the inequalities of society, 

to reach out to those starved of love,

and to nourish all with your word.

Amen. 

Counting on … day 227

27th December 2024

Today is the feast day of St John. There are quite a few St Johns but this one is the St John who in John’s Gospel is described  as the Beloved Disciple.  He is the one sitting next to Jesus at the Last Supper, and he is the one at the foot of the cross when Jesus says, ‘Mother, behold your son, son behold your mother.’

In many ways in John’s Gospel, Mary represents Mother Church and John represents the loving disciple. Today is a day for giving thanks for the example of John as an example of a loving disciple and of the primacy of creating community.

Counting on … day 176

23rd September 2024

My local community garden was formally approved before we began but others may be less formal but just as impactful. 

“What is guerrilla gardening? It’s an act of reclaiming unused or neglected urban spaces and transforming them into biodiverse havens, benefitting both people and planet. What started as a form of peaceful protest against urban decay and the encroachment of industrialisation has evolved into a global movement aimed at bringing nature back into cities. The practice involves planting flowers, vegetables or shrubs in nature-depleted pockets. This could be an abandoned flower bed, the base of trees along your road or a depleted area outside a library or bus stop. (1) 

At the same time, guerrilla gardening can involve seeking permission from the landowner which may be more forthcoming if there is a group ready and committed to greening that spot.

For more information about how to go about guerilla gardening – https://urbangardeningguru.com/guerrilla-urban-gardens-in-london-origins-impact-and-success-stories/

  1. https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/guerrilla-gardening-london-challenge-earthed-rewilding-b1179583.html