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Holy Trinity
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 O Lord it is hard to be humble when you are perfect in every way...
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Romans 12:16 - NIV I am reading Pride and Prejudice at the moment. Lady Catherine de Bourgh is proving to be an interesting character. After hearing Elizabeth Bennett play the piano, she remarks, "There are few people in England, I suppose, who have more true enjoyment of music than myself, or a better natural taste. If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient." I'm guessing Lady Catherine wasn't very familiar with this verse from Romans! In my own experience, the people I have admired the most have often been the most humble who quietly perform their acts of greatness. (Compare the respect that David Attenborough is held in with that of Elon Musk). If we are honest, we all battle with our egos. Jesus asks us to put our need for recognition and praise to one side and focus on the needs of others, putting good relationships before the need to protect our fragile egos, afterall 'blessed are the meek!' Revd Steve
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 Our Drop-in sessions started 2 weeks ago and have exceeded expections so far. Don't forget they are available to every-one so if you feel like a cuppa and a chat please come down!  The Way...
Christ Jesus has made me his own’ (Philippians 3 v.12) Paul was not a convert from one religion to another, but from religion to faith. He remained a Jew until the day he died, but a Jew who followed ‘the Way’ . He had moved from the desire to belong to an in-group, whose boundaries were to be zealously policed, into a love relationship with the Lord who breaks all such boundaries down. The human desire to be in with the in-crowd is an aspect of what the New Testament writers call ‘the flesh’. This desire has a way of infiltrating all religions, including Christianity, and feeds on marks of identity and status such as clothing, title and position (Matthew 23.5-7). Paul appears to have liked being with his particular religious in-crowd (the Pharisees), and he had several reasons to be well in. Then he met Jesus. Paul came to see – probably quite suddenly in an epiphany moment – that there was another way, the way of an out-group whose members were not defined by the usual markers of identity. These folk were not a social club but a living organic body, reflecting the love of Christ and made alive through the Spirit. They reflected the openness of Christ. They offered a welcome to all who trusted Christ, including their former persecutor, Paul himself. Once Paul found this, or, more correctly, found that he had himself been found, there was no going back; the Way was onwards and upwards. Revd Steve  In addition to the regular Sunday Service at 9.30am. The following Services are due to take place in the run-up to Easter 2025:-
Ash Wednesday - 5th March 7.00pm Maundy Thursday - Passover Meal 17th April 7.00pm Easter Sunday - 20th April 9.30am. The Elsecar School Easter Service is scheduled for 10th April at 9.30am but this has yet to be confirmed.  Bring me sunshine...
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy." (NIV). Psalm 94:19 The whole of Psalm 94 is actually a prayer for justice in the midst of wickedness. Perhaps we are living through such a time when it seems that bigotry, intolerance and the hijacking of Christianity by politicians are all on the ascendant. However, for the writer, evil is transient while God's goodness is eternal. The prayer is that we remain steadfast in our faith, confident in God's care and righteousness. God promises peace to those who believe and following Jesus' way provides 'peace that surpasses understanding' (Philippians 4:7). At moments of inner turmoil or national strife God is with us and remains the ultimate source of comfort and justice. Revd Steve  Blessed are the cheesemakers...
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 1:7b - NIV Grace and peace may feel in short supply in the world this morning. But then, to those reading this letter 200 years ago things were no better. They were a persecuted minority in a city which ruled its people with an iron fist. If the ruling and monied classes in Rome wore baseball caps they would have read 'Might Is Right!' We are called to offer the world an alternative narrative, as Paul did in his letters, as Jesus did in his 'blessed attitudes' or beatitudes. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are those who suffer persecution for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Revd Steve  Your smile is a thin disguise...
Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Colossians 3:9-10 - NIV Today's verse echoes the practice of ancient baptism where people came to the water (often a river), disrobed and put on new white clothes. If we are true followers of Jesus then this must have consequences. One of these is a renewed commitment to the truth. The suggestion in the verse is that this commitment is something which should be renewed daily as we model our lives on Jesus. Today let us pray for the courage to speak the truth no matter how inconvenient it may be. Revd Steve  Ooh! You Are Awful... But I do Like You!
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! Luke 11:13 - NIV Jesus once again uses exaggerated language to demonstrate the distance between humanity and the divine. God knows that we know how to love even though at times we fall short. Notice though that Jesus is not suggesting here that God will give 'good gifts' (perhaps signifying physical gifts) but will instead give the Holy Spirit to those who ask, 'knock and the door shall be opened'. If we seek the Spirit of God in humility and truth then, Jesus tells us, we will become Spirit filled people. Revd Steve Please see poster below with all the details...  |
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