“A new command I give you: Love one another.” Aw, well that’s nice isn’t it!
“As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” To love like Jesus loves us.
“Greater love has no-one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” Hold you hard!

Saying ‘Love one another’, well that’s okay; to say we must love like Jesus loves us, yeah, well that gives us a yard stick, a standard; but ‘that he lay down his life’ that’s a bit too far! Jesus is talking to His disciples, this rag-tag bunch of humanity; the ever impetuous Peter; James and John the sons of thunder; the slightly other-worldly John; Mary Magdalene, from whom Jesus had driven out the evil spirits. And He looks round this motley collection of people and says, ‘Love one another’. ‘Surely He can’t mean Peter – he’s such a blockhead at times, always acting or speaking before thinking’ Love one another. ‘What, love James and John – but they’re always arguing, the slightest thing and they’re off on one.’ Love one another. Jesus knew the foibles, the peculiarities, the oddities about each of His disciples. He knew that where two or three are gathered there’s bound to be a difference of opinion. ‘Love one another.’
‘As I have loved you, so you must love one another.’ Jesus loved His disciples unconditionally. His command to them was to love one another unconditionally.

And it is His command to us, ‘Love one another.’ Unconditionally.

Rev Phil

I do not doubt the power of prayer. I’ve seen prayer answered in small, and in dramatic, ways. Prayer, the on-going daily conversation with God, is extremely important to me. But, prayer can be difficult. Sometimes we feel that our request is too small, too insignificant, for God to be interested in. Other times, like paying for world peace, it feels that we are just throwing words into the air. I felt that with prayers for VE Day.

Almighty God,
from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed:
kindle in the hearts of all people the true love of peace;
and guide with Your pure and peaceable wisdom
those who take counsel for the nations of the earth;

How can we pray this, knowing that there are leaders of groups and nations who seem to turn to violence and war before ever thinking of peace? Why are we still having to pray for Ukraine, Gazza, Yemen, Sudan, when there seems no end to the violence , and peace is just a pipe-dream? (It’s a question that non-Christians ask – if the God you believe in is all-powerful, all-loving, the Prince of Peace, why doesn’t He step in and stop the violence? Where is your God?)

Being a people of prayer means rejecting the notions of ‘Que sera, sera’, or ‘Manyana, Manyana’, or fatalism. We believe in a God who became incarnate in the world, who answers prayer, who so loves the world. We proclaim a sovereign Lord, the King of the Nations. I know that during World War 2, prayer was a real and active force – my Mum was convinced that it was prayer that stopped the Nazi’s from invading after Dunkirk. May we know and believe that prayer is a real and active force in our lives, in the life of our churches, and in the life of our world.

O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my prayer
When I call, answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer , O Lord, hear my prayer,
Come and listen to me.

Rev Phil

Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in.
“You are not one of His disciples, are you?” the girl at the door asked Peter.
He replied, “I am not.”
Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “You know that I love You.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?”
He denied it, saying, “I am not.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the olive grove?”
Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a cock began to crow.
The third time He said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep”.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
1 Peter 1:3 (ANIV)

Rev Phil

In his delightful book, ‘The God Delusion’, Richard Dawkins rails against unquestioning faith.
In his atheist world, everything must be evidence based, able to stand up to rigorous, scientific investigation. The ‘problem’ with religious people, people of faith, is that they just don’t think – that is, according to Dawkins. Dear Mr Dawkins, may I introduce you to Thomas.

Despite all his friends saying that they had seen the risen Jesus, Thomas was adamant:
“Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe it.” This is not ‘Doubting Thomas’; this is ‘Independent Thinking Thomas’. Rather than get caught up in the group hysteria, Thomas wanted evidence, he wanted to think it through for himself. He was a disciple of Brian, whose central message is: ‘You’re all individuals. You’re all different. You’ve got to work it out for yourselves.’ So Thomas was prepared to question. And hence tradition has labelled him ‘Doubter’.

But doubt is not necessarily negative. Doubt is not a failing, not a falling away from faith. In order to doubt, you have to have some form of belief. Doubt can lead to creatively rethinking, revaluating what we think and believe. Faith is the resolution of doubt. The problem for Richard Dawkins to resolve is that people of faith ask a lot of questions, have often struggled with their faith, have been through periods of doubt, and are, as a result, more sure of their faith.

So, from me, a big thank you to Richard Dawkins for ‘The God Delusion’. Having read it, I am all the more sure of what I hope for and more certain of what I do not see.
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again!
ALLELUIA, CHRIST IS RISEN!
HE IS RISEN INDEED, ALLELUIA!

Rev Phil

The Guard’s Report
I’m supposed to write some sort of report saying what happened didn’t happen. Them priests want us to say that that group of Galilean fishermen overpowered us and took the body. Well, it’s their money, and her indoors keeps on about a new dress. But I need to put down somewhere what really happened, cos I’m not sure I believe it myself. The two of us was sent to guard the tomb. Guard the tomb! As if there was anything that could happen – it took a group of us to roll that ruddy great stone across the hole. And we had to use stakes as levers and everything. Ain’t nobody going to move that thing! Well there was the two of us, having a bit of a chat to keep us awake, y’know talking about the day before, some of the things what had happened, some of the things this Jesus-bloke was supposed to have said and done.
So we was chatting, when, and I‘ll swear to Jupiter and all the other gods that this is true, there was this blindin’ light from within the tomb, and an earthquake as the stone rolled to one side. Well, we was a bit shook up to say the least but we managed to sort ourselves out and have a look in the tomb. Empty! ‘cept for the grave clothes which were neatly folded in one corner. And I know he was in there before cos I was the one what made the final check before we heaved that stone in place.

When we come out again, there was this bloke all shining-like, talking with some of the Galilean women who had flowers and ointments. And this shining bloke was saying,’ He is risen from the dead’. Then them women ran off, well more like danced off, laughing and cheering. And that’s the truth of what happened.
‘Course the priests want us to write some cock‘n’bull about them fishermen taking the body. Well, if it gets she-who-must-be a new dress and me in her good books, as I say, it’s their money. But I know what really happened cos I was there. And I’m going to tell my kids and their kids, so they’ll know the truth .
There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain:

Then bursting forth in glorious Day up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine – bought with the precious blood of Christ.

Rev Phil

There were crowds to welcome Jesus. A few were His followers. They recognised something special about Him, something about His teaching, something about the way He interacted with people. They’d stick with Him through thick and thin. Some thought He was a good teacher. They liked the Sermon on the Mount, the lovely parables. It was ‘nice’ to hear
someone talk about the meek, the widow, the orphan. They weren’t too sure about His mixing with ‘tax collectors and sinners’ but He was good with children. There were those for whom Jesus was the latest in a line of fashionable, charismatic leaders, the latest ‘fad’, here today, gone tomorrow. They’d lap up His teachings that made them feel ‘good’. And the odd one or two who were looking for a revolutionary leader. Jesus was the one who was going to overthrow the Romans, and if the odd dagger in the back helped, so much the better. So they all cheered that first Palm Sunday; palm leaves, coats, hand-waving, the lot. ‘Hosanna, hosanna!’ But Jesus didn’t start the revolution; He caused too much trouble to be a ‘fad’; some of the things He said were uncomfortable and not so ‘nice’. In the end, only His followers, His true disciples, stayed with Him.

Sometimes they strew His way,
And His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day
Hosannas to their King:
Then ‘Crucify!’ is all their breath,
And for His death they thirst and cry.
They rise and needs will have
My dear Lord made away;
A murderer they save,
The Prince of life they slay,
Yet cheerful He to suffering goes,
That He His foes from thence might free.

Rev Phil

Mia is a pedigree Vizsla. She has a Kennel Club record proving her pedigree. (Amba may have a pedigree, we’re not sure—she’s just a bundle of youthful energy in a wirey coat!)
In terms of church attendance, I have ‘pedigree’. My ‘mother’ church had, and still has, strong links with Oak Hill Theological College, with many students and staff choosing
to attend Christ Church, Cockfosters. My parents were PCC members and Sunday school leaders. Dad was a verger, sidesman, and regular attender at Keswick Bible Week.
Mum sang in the choir, was Overseas Missionary secretary, and attended Billy Graham rallies in 1954 & ’55. My birth nearly interrupted a Sunday School leaders meeting. I first went to church aged 2weeks, was baptised on 3rd February 1963, and confirmed on 4th May 1978.
As I grew up, I attended Climbers, Explorers, Pathfinders, Koinonia and Sunday Fellowship. I still have my BCP, presented for 40 consecutive Sunday attendances at Explorers.
I can’t remember a time when I didn’t know about God or Jesus. After listing his ‘pedigree’ in his letter to the Philippians, Paul writes:
‘I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord’
What mattered to Paul was not his past record but his present knowing ‘Christ Jesus my Lord’. He wanted to ‘know Christ, to be ‘found in Him’, to ‘gain Christ’.
Like Paul, I can claim ‘pedigree’. And like Paul, for me my pedigree isn’t important. So I can join with him in saying:
‘Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.’

Rev Phil

Mothering Sunday

Like a mother, church is , or should be, unconditionally on your side. As church we are there for one another, caring, supporting, ready to go the extra mile; we are there for the homeless, the refugee, the disadvantaged.

Like a mother, church sees your potential. We are each made in God’s image, there is something of God in each of us. Church encourages us to be the very best version of ourselves because that’s how God sees us.

Mothers are always ready to forgive. At the core of our message as church is the fact that we are forgiven people, and we so we should be ready to forgive. And we recall that forgiveness came at a great cost, the Cross on Calvary. It was on the Cross that Jesus stretched out His arms to say, ‘I love you, I love you, I love you’, to reconcile us to God. And we, as church, are called to this ministry of reconciliation:

God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us (2 Corinthians 5: 19-20)

Rev Phil

       Happy Mothering Sunday Mum/Grandma xx

Water is essential to life. You can go for two-three weeks without food, but only two-three days without water. Water is essential for our bodies. 60-80% of our body is made up from water right down to the cellular level.

Health professionals recommend drinking 2 litres of water per day in order to maintain correct hydration levels. If we don’t keep our bodies hydrated, we suffer with lowered energy levels and reduced brain function. We can have tap water, highland spring water, arctic glacier water, slightly sparkling, fruit flavoured, isotonic. And there are water sommeliers, who can tell you where a particular water comes from, and which is the best to go with different foods.

The Bible likens our need for water to our need for God:

‘Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters…’

‘…my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.’ ‘…they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them…’

As we need our daily intake of water, so, in order to maintain our faith, we need to be daily refreshed by God.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,

“Behold, I freely give

the living water; thirsty one,

stoop down and drink, and live.”

I came to Jesus, and I drank of that life-giving stream;

my thirst was quenched, my soul revived, and now I live in Him.

Rev Phil

There is music … and then there is music.

There are paintings … and then there are paintings.

Vivaldi’s ‘Spring’ from the ‘Four Seasons’ is beautiful, full of melody and intricate harmonies; it is aesthetically pleasing.

But Elgar’s ‘Nimrod’ from the ‘Enigma Variations’ stirs my soul. I can see rolling English hills covered in hues of green and brown; a lazy sun rising in a blue sky with wisps of high, cirrus clouds; larks singing as they rise; a traditional village nestled in the valley, with a church and a pub and a village green.

Da Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa’, with her enigmatic smile, the mystery of who she is, is a great painting.

Dali’s ‘Christ of St John of the Cross’, with its extraordinary perspective, like an Orthodox icon, draws me into the suffering of Christ on the cross, the mystery of God’s love, while ordinary life carries on with the little fishing boat … I could spend hours simply gazing at this picture, meditating on it, communing with God.

The Psalmist wrote:

‘One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.’

‘… to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord …’ This is more than just looking, more than just aesthetic appreciation. It involves meditation, communion, standing in awe, loosing oneself, just being; as Wesley put it, to be ‘Lost in wonder, love and praise’

When I look into Your holiness, When I gaze into Your loveliness, When all things that surround Become shadows in the light of You;

When I’ve found the joy of reaching Your heart, When my will becomes enthralled in Your love, When all things that surround

Become shadows in the light of You: I worship You, I worship You,

The reason I live is to worship You

Rev Phil