A Reflection, a Bible Study and a poem.

A REFLECTION on ‘A time for everything’ by Richard Cracknell

“I’ve been reading a book recently about the Kings and Queens of England; I found it in the bargain bin of WH Smith, (£5 off because someone had defaced the cover!) and I thought that buying it might encourage me to improve my woeful lack of knowledge of this aspect of our history. Perhaps I should mention that I bought it back in 1990! which begs the question: ‘was there no period of just a few hours in the past 30 years when I could have sat down and read it?’ And, ‘has it really taken a global pandemic to provide the opportunity and impetus for me to get it off the shelf?’ I’m sure that many books around the country have been brought down from shelves, dusted off and read in recent months as people have suddenly found themselves with vast quantities of time on their hands. Many DIY jobs which were left un-finished have also now been completed, and many lofts and sheds finally cleared out! This period of lock-down has allowed us to catch up with things we have neglected to do through lack of time, but it is often not so much lack of time that is the problem but the way we fill it. We like to keep ourselves busy and to guard against idleness. But time is a gift from God, it is not to be feared but embraced, to be used wisely and not squandered. I was reminded of those great words from Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 ……….

1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Perhaps this is a time to reflect on our priorities and a time to ask God to guide us in the best use of our time for the benefit of others and for ourselves. Now where’s that dictionary of theology I’ve been meaning to read for the past 9 years …… “ Richard

‘Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these.’ (Luke 12:27 New International Version)

‘Zoom’ study course for our Church on the book of Revelations in July

Rev Jeremy Hurst has offered to take a 4 week ‘Zoom’ study course for our Church on the book of Revelations in July, (possibly on Tuesdays at 10 am.) • Purpose: to study this strange book, full of visions, always vivid, often violent, which has puzzled and inspired generations of readers. • Structure: Four sessions of one hour by Zoom: i. Chapter 1. Who wrote it, when, where and why? Chapters 2 and 3. Letters to seven churches in Asia. ii. Chapters 4 and 5. The worship of heaven. iii. Chapter 13. The number of the beast. Chapters 14 – 18. The fall of Babylon. iv. Chapters 21 and 22. A new heaven and a new earth. Please have to hand a Bible, any version. Also, please be ready to join in with comments and questions, even though this is a difficult medium. It would be helpful if you could read the chapters in advance. Jeremy Hurst If you are interested please let Graham know.

‘Drinking from my Saucer’ and written by John Paul Moore.

(1) ‘I’ve never made a fortune And it’s probably too late now, But I don’t worry about that much, I’m happy anyhow. And as I go along life’s way, Reaping better than I sowed I’m drinking from my saucer ‘Cause my cup has overflowed.

(2) Haven’t got a lot of riches, at times the going’s tough. But loved ones all around me, makes me rich, quite rich enough. I thank God for all His blessings, and the mercies He’s bestowed. I’m drinking from my saucer ‘Cause my cup has overflowed.

(3) I remember times when things went wrong, My faith wore somewhat thin. But all at once the dark clouds broke, and the sun peeped through again. So Lord, please help me not to gripe about tough rows I have hoed. I’m drinking from my saucer ‘Cause my cup has overflowed.

(4) God gives me strength and courage, when the way grows steep and rough, I’ll not ask for other blessings, I’m already blessed enough. And may I never be too busy, to help others bear their loads. Then I’ll keep drinking from my saucer, ‘Cause my cup has overflowed!’

A Reflection: by Richard Cracknell and other church news.......

A Reflection: Trinity Sunday, by Richard Cracknell

Trinity Sunday is always a bit of a tricky topic for preachers to tackle, so they often compare the three aspects of the Godhead with three aspects of something else such as water, ice and steam. I have tried several things when preaching on Trinity Sunday; once (when I was younger and keener!) I looked at ‘sound’ in three different ways: I played some music which people could ‘hear’ then I got the children to put their hands on the speaker to ‘feel’ it, then I used an oscilloscope which displayed the sound as a wiggly line on a screen so that the children could ‘see’ it. But I think the music may have been too loud and a couple of people walked out!

On another occasion I got a wobbly old chair and proceeded to cut a bit off each leg in turn in an effort to make it stable, but this just made it worse. Eventually I pulled both front legs off and put one back in the middle at the front (in a hole I had already drilled) and, hey presto, my now ‘three legged’ chair was perfectly stable, I even sat on it! This was much better received and demonstrated that our understanding of God is most successful when it is supported by the three strands of the Godhead.

There is a balance, a completeness, in the Trinity with each person very distinct and very different from the others, yet each a part of the whole. Remove or diminish one and our whole understanding of God is likely to collapse. Although you may not find the word Trinity in the Bible its doctrine is alluded to in several places, and its importance is highlighted by the fact that Jesus Himself refers to it in His final instructions to the disciples in Matthew 28v19:

‘Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,’

As human beings we are naturally inquisitive and are always trying to understand the world around us, so it’s only natural that we try to understand God. But in doing this are we overstepping the mark and getting ideas above our station? And is there a danger with Trinity Sunday that we attempt to ‘take God apart’ in order to try and increase our understanding of Him? We do well to remember that God is beyond our best efforts of explanation using mere words, bigger than our capability to understand, which leaves us just one option: to worship Him, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, God in three persons, Blessed Trinity.

A prayer:

Dear Lord, we thank you that you are our creator and Father God, our brother in Jesus and our constant help and guide through your Spirit within us. You are beyond our understanding, yet, as we look around us, we see your hand in creation all around us. As we read your word, we learn of how you became one of us and walked this very Earth as Jesus, and day by day we feel your presence within us every step of the way. Help us to worship you and give you the praise that is your due as best we can until we can gather again in your house, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen

Great is thy faithfulness! Great is they faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed thy hand has provided,

Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.

(Thomas O Chisholm, Hymns and Psalms 66)

Windsor Christian Aid:

A letter from Tracy Tickle the Chair of Windsor Christian Aid “Dear friends What a great effort! I thought you would like to know we have raised well over £5,000 for Christian Aid during our Christian Aid Week/May activities. A huge thanks to all of you who have given money. Thank you if you have taken part, joined a quiz, walked the countryside, cycled miles, ‘stepped’ around your home or garden or enjoyed the devotionals or online activities during May. We really appreciate all your support. It’s been a new way of fundraising, without being able to hold events, deliver envelopes, or see people face to face and yet people have been so generous. Thank you for sharing on Facebook, emailing your friends, families and churches and publicising what we have done. Thank you to those who have taken part by doing some sponsored activity, such as Ruth, Je, Sally and Tracy, which gained a lot of interest! Thanks to Windsor Baptist Church for holding a virtual Quiz, well done to all who joined in. And thank you to Susy for her thought provoking and challenging ‘daily devotionals’, which inspired and motivated us during the week. And anyone else who did something which we don’t know about! When we started out a couple of months ago we had no idea what we could raise, so this is a fantastic result. Many thanks for all your help and support, from all in the Windsor Christian Aid Group. Tracy Tickle

Church Council Meeting -

A ‘Zoom’ Church Council meeting will be held on Thursday 11th June. If there is any matter that you wish to be raised, please contact one of the Leadership Team by Wednesday. The meeting will be recorded and made available to all the following week.

A video from Rev Sonia, a reflection from Rev Dr Malcolm White and other news…..

This Sunday’s ON-LINE PENTECOST SERVICE is at 10.30 am led by our Supt Minister, The Rev Sonia Hicks.

This week’s video from Sonia please follow this link:

https://www.methodistthamesvalley.org.uk/

A Reflection: by The Rev Dr Malcolm White

‘On Tuesday March 17th I went shopping in Tesco Windsor, then I crossed the Dedworth Road to go to the Chemist, I tripped in the small car park outside the shop. The next thing I knew the Paramedics were with me trying to stop the bleeding on my forehead, the ambulance was next to me. They could not stop the bleeding because I was on Warfarin, a Blood thinner. So, into the ambulance with the siren going I was taken to Wexham Park Hospital. The staff got to work on me immediately, 6 hours later with my head wound stitched up, and my head completely bandaged, I returned home. Then we had ‘lock down’! Churches closed the following Sunday and we were self-isolating as a family. Being an active person all my life it was not good news! Yet in fact it was a gift. I felt God in my prayer time was saying ‘Come with me, by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest’ (Mark 6:31). God seemed to bid me leave my busyness, my plans, the ticking clock, the noise, the words - and to rest in God’s presence. But what would I do? An idea came to me:- My former Professor of Divinity at Cambridge University, Charles Moule, had written two books: ‘The Holy Spirit’ in 2001, and a book called ‘Christ Alive and At Large’ in 2008. He died, aged 98 in 2009 before this book was published but his nephew found his script in his loft. These two books and the Bible, together with my prayers would be my thought provoker as I reflected on this time of the Church Year. Since then we have passed through Lent and Good Friday, we have remembered that Jesus came because ‘God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life’ (John 3:16). As Paul writes, God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation ( 2 Cor. 5:19). Why? Because there had been a break-down, fracture, a wound in the relationship between God and the human race - reconciliation was needed - all reconciliations are costly. When I went into hospital my wound had to be stitched up, there were others in Accident and Emergency who had fractured bones that needed to be wrapped up to hold them together, but actually the healing process comes from the creative healing function of the living body that has been cut or broken. Jesus, in His life, showed God’s love and forgiveness, and on the cross wrapped or stitched humanity to God with Jesus’ prayer to heal the break, the wound in God’s relationship. As Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing about those who crucified him; then, Jesus’ words to the criminal who said from his cross, Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom; Jesus answered, Truly, today you will be with me in Paradise; but the healing process came from the creative forgiveness of God’s love. Now we move on to Pentecost when we remember another of the gifts of God, the Holy Spirit. Giving the disciples the ability to preach the message of reconciliation between God and people, between nations and between people with power. A Pentecost Prayer by Dennis Wrigley, slightly adapted so that we may continue the ministry of reconciliation in our generation:

Loving God may the Holy Spirit, the guide to all truth, giver of power, come upon me now. As gently as a dove or like tongues of living fire, As quietly as the summer breeze or as a mighty roaring wind. Come and dwell within me, unworthy as I am give me those gifts which I can use to Your honour and glory, that I may show forth Your fruit, even in my life. In Jesus name – Amen. Malcolm.

‘Thy Kingdom Come’ -

On-line meetings took place as planned each weekday between Ascension Day and Pentecost in accordance with the powerful initiative from Archbishop Justin Welby bringing all Christian Churches together in prayer in the hope of bringing more people to our Lord Jesus Christ. Thanks to our Ministers this was a very special time for several folks across the Circuit.

Church Council Meeting -

Date for your diaries The Church Council will be holding a Zoom meeting on 11th June at 7.30 pm. If there are any issues that you would like discussed, please contact the Secretary by 31st May.

Jesus is seeking the wanderers yet; Why do they roam? Love only waits to forgive and forget; Home weary wanderer home! Wonderful love – dwells in the heart of the Father above. (Robert Walmsley, Hymns and Psalms 691)

‘Thy Kingdom Come’: message from Rev Margaret “ and VE Day memories from Roy

Hi folks - we are just about to enter the fifth year of Thy Kingdom Come but all the meetings will need to be on-line this year. Attached to Rosemary’s email is a list of prayer challenges for churches, individuals and families, and the list of Zoom invitations so that people can pray and undertake a Bible study. This year the 9-day prayer booklet is on-line but I do have some copies that can be sent to those who are not on-line; just let me know who needs them. To download the pdf of the prayer handbook follow the link below: https://www.thykingdomcome.global/sites/default/files/202004/Prayer%20Journal%202020%20C19V.pdf With every blessing - Margaret

Another lovely memory of VE Day: from Roy “Having joined the ATC aged 14 at my school (Ranelagh, Bracknell), I was involved in a V.E. Parade in Windsor starting in St Leonard’s Road and ending up outside the Castle. Other cadets including Army, Navy etc were involved and Guides and Scouts. I had joined the ATC with a specific purpose in mind as I wished to join the RAF and had heard that this would smooth the path to that goal. Whilst at Ranelagh a local concert party wanted 3 ATC cadets to take part in concerts which I duly did and when one of the tap-dancing girls was sick they found that Gwen could tap-dance and that was when I met Gwen for the first time, you might say by accident! I duly joined the RAF to do my National Service in 1947 having trained as a draftsman and was posted to Market Drayton. Roy ”

Our thanks to Roy for sharing a lovely memory of himself and Gwen!

The latest video from Sonia

This week’s video from Sonia, please follow the link below:

https://www.methodistthamesvalley.org.uk/

Christian Aid - they need donations!

Christian Aid week carries on until Saturday 16 May so there is still time to make a donation if you can.

Locally some of the Christian Aid team are doing a Sponsored Step Challenge to walk 500,000 steps in May. Many of us still want to support the work of Christian Aid, particularly as they work with our ‘global neighbours’ around the world – many of whom will suffer particularly badly as a result of Covid-19, and the subsequent economic hardship that is coming. Christian Aid is a major UK aid agency, part of the Disasters Emergency Committee, they work around the world to eradicate poverty and campaign for change but each year a huge amount of their funding comes from Christian Aid Week and this will not take place this year.

Here is link to the Windsor Christian Aid week justgiving page and they would be grateful for any contributions.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/windsor-christian-aid-group

Please would you consider sponsoring – perhaps £2 (the price of a coffee out which you can’t have this week?) or £5 if you are feeling more flush(a tuna mayo melt?) ? 

Update

Dear Christian Aid supporters and friends,

Windsor Baptist Church is holding a virtual quiz tomorrow evening to support Christian Aid Week, please do join them if you would be interested!  Details below.

The current giving on our justgiving page is now £2,770 which is great news.  We are continuing to ask people for their support and encouraging them to spread this information amongst their friends and families.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/windsor-christian-aid-group

Thank you for all your support, we hope you are keeping safe and well,

With love

Tracy

Chair

Windsor Christian Aid

Christian Aid Week 2020 and a Reflection from Richard Cracknell

As many of you know Christian Aid Week takes place every May, and across the churches in Windsor we have always been very active, holding a range of fundraising activities to support the work of Christian Aid , including door to door collections.

This year we cannot do that!  But many of us still want to support the work of Christian Aid, particularly as they work with our global neighbours around the world – many of whom will suffer particularly badly as a result of Covid-19,  so here are some of the ways you can support Christian Aid Week 2020:

1.   Please make an online donation directly to Christian Aid using our ‘justgiving page’:https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/windsor-christian-aid-group

2.   Please sponsor one of us who is doing a Sponsored activity this month:  Ruth Norri and    Tracy Tickle are doing a Sponsored Step challenge; Sally Wright is cycling 250 miles for the whole of May and they have started already.  Again, please use the same justgiving page to sponsor them. 

3.   If you would prefer, please send a cheque made payable to ‘Christian Aid’ to our Treasurer Mrs Pat Gibbinson, 6 Drummond House, Balmoral Gardens, Windsor, SL4 3SG.

Why not give:

·         £2 – the cost of the coffee you may not have been able to buy this week

·         £5 – the cost of an activity you haven’t been able to do in lockdown

·         £30 – to pay for a family to have hygiene kits and safe water

·         £50 – to pay for a community toilet and handwashing block

·         £100 – to help set up a clean water point

Many of us in this extraordinary lockdown have been very focused, quite rightly, on our own families, friends and our own local community: but this is a good opportunity to look out further to our ‘global neighbours’ as Christian Aid calls them.  So please consider supporting our efforts for Christian Aid in Windsor this May.   More details will follow about other activities later in the month.    Thank you and God bless you.

Windsor Christian Aid Group 

A group of seven "Daily Devotionals" for Christian Aid Week (10th--17th May inclusive) are attached along with this newsletter to Rosemary’s email and can also be found on our Church Website. Alternatively, if you would prefer to receive these by email, please  contact Susy Shearer at: shearersj@btinternet.com      

And finally, a prayer for Christian Aid by Mary

“Lord, in the midst of our own preoccupations and worries, help us to remember those in poorer countries whose crops are failing, and who have to walk miles every day to collect drinking water.  Amen.”

                                                  

A REFLECTION by Mr Richard Cracknell

Like many people, I function best in a routine. I don’t respond well to any change in my life either good or bad, so the current covid crisis has caused me a fair amount of anxiety. I am fortunate, in some ways, that as I cannot work from home, I am still travelling to work each day and thus maintaining some vestige of normality (and enjoying the quieter roads!). But this has been the longest period that I can remember that I haven’t gone to church on a Sunday. Our regular services and fellowship meetings help to sustain our faith and are a very important part of our ‘routine’. It is at times like these that we most need the support of our brothers and sisters in Christ and yet we are denied this vital lifeline at present. Of course, there has been sterling work done by our ministers in running ‘Zoom’ services and by those who prepare and distribute the newsletters, not to mention the ongoing care of our pastoral visitors. But seldom has there been a time when we have had to rely on our own personal faith to see us through, and this is not always easy, particularly when we are worried or anxious and don’t know where to turn.

I was reminded of the psalmist in Psalm 121 who pondered where he would turn to for help:

I lift up my eyes to the mountains - where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you - the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life;

the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Here in the Thames Valley we are hard pushed to look to the mountains! But we can still look to our Lord, who will sustain us in our most difficult times as He has done for all those who have looked to Him throughout the years. And when we eventually return to church may it be with renewed joy at the fellowship we share and appreciation of what we have missed, and may it never again seem to be simply part of our ‘routine’.

Richard

 

A Video, a Meditation and Zoom Bible Studies…..

A video from Josh

Josh has produced this week’s video please follow the link below:

https://www.methodistthamesvalley.org.uk/

Mr Neville Walton has written a ‘Meditation on the London Marathon’

Please see the below link. You will find other interesting enclosed links, including the Circuit Annual Report:

https://www.methodistthamesvalley.org.uk/news.pdf

Zoom reflective bible study

Dear Friends,

Sarah Gardner and I were really delighted (and surprised!) that the Zoom reflective bible study (called “Lectio Divina” in the RC tradition) worked so well on Zoom. It proved to be an oasis of calm and peace, so we wanted our friends at WMC to know about it and join in if it appeals, as are some members of various CofE churches around Windsor.

In case you missed it, the notice in the most recent Sunday newsletter was as follows:
"Invitation to all from Sarah Gardner, Rosemary Willis, Hazel and Sister Patricia of St Edwards to a series of Reflections on the Acts, leading up to Pentecost:  These are 1-hour weekly ecumenical bible studies on the Acts of the Apostles via Zoom.  (Zoom enables us to have online meetings, similar to Skype)  The first of these took place on Wednesday 22 April 13.30-14.30.  Anyone who would like to see the notes on the  
Acts 1:6-14 Ascension reflections, please email:

sarah.gardnerlobo@gmail.com or r@rosemarywillis.me and they will be happy to send the material to you.
The remaining reflections will take place as follows:

4.   1.30 pm to 2.30 pm on Wednesday 13 May and

5.    1.30 pm to 2.30 pm on Wednesday 20 May

6.    1.30 pm to 2.30 pm on Wednesday 27 May

If you would like to join these ecumenical “virtual meetings”, and/or receive the written reflections,  please email Sarah or Rosemary and they will be happy to help you use the technology to enable you to join the meetings and/or send you the materials used.”

We’d love you to join us if this appeals to you,
Rosemary W.

Video from Sonia and more, read on…..

Please click on the link below to view the video:

https://www.methodistthamesvalley.org.uk/

A reflection from Andy

As a Deacon and member of the Methodist Diaconal Order, I receive a monthly emailing called the ‘Order Paper,’ which keeps all the Deacons up-to-date with various items.

In the one I received about a week ago, there was a picture that stood out and caught my eye: It was a powerful and moving interpretation of Jesus washing the disciple’s feet. However, what made it so powerful was that the person having their feet washed was not a disciple but a nurse dressed in ‘scrubs’ and a theatre cap. The nurse has their head in their hands and – to me - portrays exhaustion and despair.

The feet washing is obviously welcomed and refreshing but how far does that go to address the whole needs – physical and emotional – of everyone who is truly on the front line?

I felt that the nurse having their feet washed needed so much more: a hot bath, a hug, a good meal, a massage, a good sleep, chance to see family and/or friends – who knows ?

Washing someone’s feet may only seem like small action but sometimes the simple things in life, like a phone call, letter or whatever, can have an enormous impact on those around us.

As we continue to journey through these strange and uncertain times, who’s feet do we need to wash? Metaphorically speaking, there are many people with their heads in their hands feeling confusion, fear and despair, waiting for someone to wash their feet with a simple phone call or whatever. In all the challenges of our present circumstances, may we always be prepared to share the living Hope that we have: That of Jesus Christ, son of God, risen from the dead – who longs to wash all our feet.

May God bless and protect you at this time.

Christian Aid Update

One event which has just been launched, nationally, takes place this Saturday – a Christian Aid quiz!  It is being hosted live online on Saturday evening, 7.30 pm, hosted by Rev Kate Bottley, with rounds being led by Dr Rowan Williams, Giles Fraser and other familiar faces. If you know anyone who likes taking part in quizzes it would be great to join in with this.  It is being advertised on facebook and social media.  All you have to do is sign up to register and then they send you more details of how to join in. 

Details can be found on  https://www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/key-appeals/christian-aid-week - look down the bottom half of this screen, or

https://www.facebook.com/events/2688744387920980/ on facebook. 

Project Gateway

We thought you would be interested to read a recent update from Di Milford, the general manager of Project Gateway in Pietermaritzburg South Africa.  This we are sure you will recall is a charity our church supported a few years ago.

As I stay at home trying to do as much “work” as possible I thought you would be interested to know what Project Gateway has been up to during the past 3 or so weeks of complete lockdown in South Africa.  During this unprecedented time in our country 4 of our senior Executive Board members, who are also Pastors of large Churches in the city and its surrounds, have been distributing food parcels on a daily basis.  They were selected as only 4 permits are allowed per organization to do this work.  The Pastors have the knowledge as to “who” the most needy families are in their communities and this includes many child-headed households where the oldest person living in the house is under the age of 18 years.  They are often looking after 2 or 3 siblings.  We are sure that the correct families receive the support. 

The Project is still doing wonderful work with the poorest of the poor but clearly there is still a great need especially in these difficult times.

For further information:  enquiries@projectgateway.co.za

Please hold them in your prayers.

And also you may be interested in………..

Zoom reflective bible study

Dear Friends,
Sarah Gardner and I were really delighted (and surprised!) that the Zoom reflective bible study (called “Lectio Divina” in the RC tradition) worked so well on Zoom. It proved to be an oasis of calm and peace, so we wanted our friends at WMC to know about it and join in if it appeals, as are some members of various CofE churches around Windsor.

In case you missed it, the notice in the most recent Sunday newsletter was as follows:
"Invitation to all from Sarah Gardner, Rosemary Willis, Hazel and Sister Patricia of St Edwards to a series of Reflections on the Acts, leading up to Pentecost:  These are 1-hour weekly ecumenical bible studies on the Acts of the Apostles via Zoom.  (Zoom enables us to have online meetings, similar to Skype)  The first of these took place on Wednesday 22 April 13.30-14.30.  Anyone who would like to see the notes on the  
Acts 1:6-14 Ascension reflections, please email:

sarah.gardnerlobo@gmail.com or r@rosemarywillis.me and they will be happy to send the material to you.
The remaining 5 reflections will take place as follows:

2.   1.30 pm to 2.30 pm, Wednesday 29 April

3.   1.30pm to 2.30 pm on Wednesday 6 May

4.   1.30 pm to 2.30 pm on Wednesday 13 May and

5.    1.30 pm to 2.30 pm on Wednesday 20 May

6.    1.30 pm to 2.30 pm on Wednesday 27 May

If you would like to join these ecumenical “virtual meetings”, and/or receive the written reflections,  please email Sarah or Rosemary and they will be happy to help you use the technology to enable you to join the meetings and/or send you the materials used.”

We’d love you to join us if this appeals to you,
Rosemary W.

A Video from Sonia, an invitation to join a Zoom meeting leading up to Pentacost and The Road to Emmaus by Tim Baker

A Reflection by Rev Sonia Hicks

This week’s  video from Sonia is very topical! 

https://www.methodistthamesvalley.org.uk/

Reflections on the Acts, leading up to Pentecost

Invitation to all from Sarah Gardner, Rosemary Willis, Hazel and Sister Patricia of St Edwards to a series of Reflections on the Acts, leading up to Pentecost:  These are 1-hour weekly ecumenical reflections on the Acts of the Apostles via Zoom.  (Zoom is an app the IT minded members of our Church are beginning to feel more confident with)  The first of these took place Wednesday 22 April 13.30-14.30.  Anyone who would like to see the details retrospectively, please email:

sarah.gardnerlobo@gmail.com or r@rosemarywillis.me  and they will be  happy to send the  material to you.

The following 4 reflections will take place as follows:

2.   1.30 pm to 2.30 pm, Wednesday 29 April

3.   1.30pm to 2.30 pm on Wednesday 6 May

4.  1.30 pm to 2.30 pm on Wednesday 13 May

5.  1.30 pm to 2.30 pm on Wednesday 20 May

Again, please email Sarah or Rosemary as above and they will be very pleased to send you details of the Meeting ID and passwords to access these Bible Studies on Zoom. Alternatively, if you are not able to access via Zoom, please email Sarah or Rosemary and they will be happy to send you the materials used.

The Road to Emmaus by Tim Baker

This week’s gospel reading, the story of Cleopas and his companion on the Emmaus Road, is one of encounter.

The two disciples, fleeing all that was agonising and painful about the events in Jerusalem, including Jesus’ death…they meet a stranger on the road. A stranger who seems oblivious to what has gone on, but seems incredibly well-versed in the scriptures and to have a particularly interesting (and possibly quite radical?) take on how they can be interpreted. He talks to them all the way to the house, and is eventually invited in as a guest. It is only then, as they break bread together, that the recognition dawns.

This is the Christ. Jesus, somehow, miraculously, back from the dead. And as they grasp this truth, he is gone…

Wow – it’s quite a story! We go on this roller-coaster of emotions. The premise of the story – meeting someone on the road and inviting them back to your house – is not something we can do at the moment, in the midst of the Coronavirus lockdown. However, the story has lots of encouragement for us as we reflect on what it means to be disciples of Jesus in this strangest of all Easter seasons…

Firstly, in verse 21, where Cleopas reflects on the sadness of Jesus’ death – ‘we had hoped that he was the one’. We had hoped.
Perhaps we have already lost loved ones to the virus, and ‘had hoped’ for so much more – for longer with them, to be able to be with them at the end, to be able to attend their funeral and throw a party at the end. We are dealing with the grief of ‘we had hoped’.

Perhaps we had made plans for April, or May, or for the summer, which have now been thrown into jeopardy by the virus. We were looking forward to an exciting moment or holiday, we were planning to see family and friends, we were attending events or festivals or gatherings that are usually a key part of our yearly rhythms.
We had hoped for so much more.

We know the pain of the grieving disciples as they walk the weary road.

And yet, Jesus comes into their midst.

This is the great joy of the resurrection stories in the gospels – they all point us towards being a people of hope. We cannot always be happy, we cannot always rejoice, we may need to grieve…but we do not grieve as a people without hope.

Rather, we look for the encounter with Jesus, even in the midst of pain and anguish. Even amongst broken dreams and lost hopes, we look for the stranger who joins us on the road of life’s journey. He is there, beside us. Telling stories, breaking bread, sharing love and grace. Wherever you are today, on your journey. However you feel about the ‘hopes’ you have lost, Jesus wants to come and sit and eat with you.

Will you make him welcome?

Tim Baker 

Published in The Vine at Home material, compiled and produced by ‘twelvebaskets’


 

19th April Morning Service via Zoom

Dear Friends,

Deacon Andy Packer will be leading a Zoom service this Sunday (19th April) at 10.30am. Please try and join us if you are able, access details in our newsletter.

REFLECTION by Richard Cracknell

Thomas: (John 20:19-31)    

Thomas slipped out of the upper room locking the door behind him… someone had to get the provisions. Peter was the obvious choice but he wanted to lie low, he was still nervous about being challenged in the street as a follower of Jesus. So it fell to Thomas, who was known to have a fearless streak (John 11:16), to go out and get what they needed.

Gradually his eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight as he stepped out into the hot and dusty streets. He blended into the bustling market place, he envied the people going about their normal lives and wondered if there would ever be a ‘normal’ life again for him and his friends now that Jesus had gone.

When he got back, he noticed the change as soon as he entered the room… his friends whom he had left moping in the upper room were now chatting animatedly, there was a new spirit in the air. It was clear that something had happened and the other disciples couldn’t wait to tell him about it, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ they exclaimed, but he wasn’t in the mood for their riddles:

“Unless I see the scars of the nails in His hands and put my hand in His side I will not believe” 

**********************

It may have disappointed Jesus that Thomas was unable to believe his friends but He definitely didn’t want Thomas to miss out. And so a week later He appears again to the disciples and this time Thomas is there too. Jesus turns to Thomas and says:

“Put your finger here and look at my hands then stretch out your hand and put it in my side. Stop your doubting and believe!”

I prefer to think that Thomas didn’t inspect Jesus’ wounds, as he was invited to, but just sees the Lord he knows so well and exclaims, “My Lord and my God!”

It was a shame that Thomas wasn’t there to meet Jesus the first time and unfortunate that his friends couldn’t convince him that they had. But it is rather unfair that Thomas is forever labelled ‘the doubter’ and viewed in a negative light because, in reality, he was a very loyal and perceptive disciple. It was a question from Thomas which drew out of Jesus that great statement found in John 14:5,6:

"I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me.”

And in our passage today he draws out of Jesus another great statement and a blessing for us all:

“Do you believe because you have seen me?” Jesus says to Thomas

“Blessed are those who have not seen me yet believe.”

This is a blessing from the Lord Jesus Himself to all those who believe in Him without the benefit of Thomas’ resurrection experience. And that includes you and me!

So, in those moments of doubt that we all encounter in our Christian life from time to time we can relate to one who was closest to Jesus, one who had heard the promises of Jesus with His own ears yet still struggled to comprehend that the resurrection of Jesus had happened just as He said it would.

***********************

Thomas strode out of the upper room, this time he left the door open for the other disciples to follow. Gradually his eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight as he stepped out into the hot and dusty streets. He went into the bustling market place but no longer envied the people going about their normal lives, there was a new normality now – a post resurrection normality – and world that needed to be told.

Richard Cracknell

                                                                                                                    

Holy Week Reflections and Services

Jon and Rosemary send you all their warmest greetings. Jon has done a series of six reflections called “Six Days in the Jerusalem of the Heart” for Holy Week for Marlow Church that were streamed ‘live’. Each one lasts around 10 minutes. You may like to follow this link to view them all:

www.facebook.com/pg/marlowmethodistchurch/videos/

or via these links:

Reflections by Jon Garde

Good Friday

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kA7JMiZJnTY

Thursday

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWw6jNpYWu4z52t760p7UJg

Wednesday

https://youtu.be/6jWFePwLYSM

Tuesday

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHvo8HkSa9c

Greetings also from our Circuit  -  (check out our Circuit Website and ours of course!)

Neville Walton has also been busy and written a wonderful meditation for Holy Week.  If you click on this, it will take you straight to it.

https://www.methodistthamesvalley.org.uk/news.pdf 

Easter Sunday Service at 10.30 am come and join in using Zoom

For those of you who have an App called Zoom and are able to – Sonia will be leading our Easter Sunday service.

The Lectionary readings for this week are:    Acts 10:34-43 or Jer 31:1-6; Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24; Col 3:1-4 or Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18 or Matt 28:1-10.

Holy Week Reflections

By Jon Garde

Thursday

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWw6jNpYWu4z52t760p7UJg

Wednesday

https://youtu.be/6jWFePwLYSM

Tuesday

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHvo8HkSa9c

Greetings also from our Circuit  -  (check out our Circuit Website and ours of course!)

Neville Walton has also been busy and written a wonderful meditation for Holy Week.  If you click on this, it will take you straight to it.

https://www.methodistthamesvalley.org.uk/news.pdf 

Easter Sunday Service at 10.30 am come and join in using Zoom

For those of you who have an App called Zoom and are able to – Sonia will be leading our Easter Sunday service.

The Lectionary readings for this week are:    Acts 10:34-43 or Jer 31:1-6; Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24; Col 3:1-4 or Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18 or Matt 28:1-10.

Holy Week Reflections

By Rev Conrad Hicks

For Lent this year, we decided to give up using electric lights and devices for an hour each evening. It was following a suggestion that this season, traditionally associated with giving things up, could be used to reduce our reliance on electricity and subsequent carbon footprint.

So, we sat each evening in candle-light, having to talk instead of being on the computer or watching TV. Though the darkness was limiting – an hour without a cup of tea as we couldn’t put on the kettle – the candles flickered and danced and the light they produced enabled us to see each other.

I was recently clearing my Mum’s house. She died late last year. I found all the sympathy cards she had received when my Dad had died, aged 61. Among them were a series of cards from the Minister who had married Sonia and I – not my parents’s minister. Each card was sent during the 9 months my father was dying; each one said: ‘We lit a candle today and prayed for you’.

In John 8:12, Jesus says, ‘I AM the Light of the world.’ We are told in John 1:4-5, ‘…in Him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.’

In John 5:25 Jesus says, ‘the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.’ This prophecy is fulfilled in the story at the heart of the Gospel when Lazarus hears the voice of Jesus from the tomb, is brought back to life and comes out into the light. As Jesus prepares His disciples for the journey to Lazarus’s tomb, He says, ‘Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world.’ (John 11:9)

Just before my father was diagnosed with cancer and given 9 months to live, an Anglican priest prayed for him and my father received a vision of heaven. Throughout those 9 months, he was filled with peace and told everyone, ‘I have seen heaven; I can’t wait to be with Jesus.’ The light of hope in the darkness of grief and pending separation.

These are difficult times: Times of isolation, separation, grief, anxiety and death. But we believe that the wilderness of Lent and the violence of Holy Week lead to the Resurrection Hope of Easter Day. And we believe that the One in the wilderness, the One crucified and risen, is the Light of the world; the darkness could not extinguish the Light. And He is with us.

Rev. Conrad Hicks

Palm Sunday Message 2020, Matthew 21:1-11, by Richard Cracknell   

REFLECTION

I wonder if you have any memories of Palm Sunday from your childhood? For me it conjures up thoughts of happy and carefree times, of springtime, sunshine, the Easter holidays from school and, most importantly, the promise of chocolate eggs! I think back to when I was in Sunday School, where we would hear the story of Jesus having a nice donkey ride, with everyone cheering and waving palms and shouting Hosanna! Often, we would make our own palms and wave them, or draw pictures of the scene. And back in those Sunday school days I figured that Jesus was happy and carefree too, enjoying the ride, enjoying the sunshine and enjoying the goodwill of the people. But was He happy and carefree, or was He intensely anxious with the thought of what lay ahead?

As children we learn the Easter story in a somewhat sanitised way, and necessarily so, because the real story is quite upsetting. Not just the nails and thorns, but the loneliness and betrayal that Jesus faced too.

One thing that struck me when looking again at this Palm Sunday reading, was how it marks a real pivot point in Jesus’ ministry. Up until this point Jesus is very much in control, He meets any opposition with clever arguments and responses, He was unfazed by any question or situation. But from Palm Sunday onwards the narrative changes as He relinquishes that control and submits Himself to the inevitable events of what we call Holy week. It all starts as He goes to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover with the disciples. Instead of walking into Jerusalem as He had done many times before, He makes a carefully considered entrance, riding on a donkey. We perhaps associate donkeys with rides along Brighton beach but, in those days, it was considered a noble beast used by important people when on peaceful missions.  And so, by arriving in this way, Jesus draws attention to himself in a way He has not done before and the crowds gather to see Him.

Among the crowds that day there may well have been people whom he’d healed, or who had heard Him teach. Maybe some of the 5000 who were fed by the lakeside were there, who knows, but there is certainly enough goodwill to cheer Him on His way. I wonder if, just for a moment, He allowed himself to enjoy this recognition for all that He had achieved during His ministry.  Also in the crowd, however, are those who feel threatened by His presence, and who are now challenged by his arrival in this fashion. They can no longer ignore Him, or hope He will just go away and, from this point on, His fate was sealed. And each year as we make this journey with Jesus through Holy week, we are grieved once again to hear of His suffering, and perhaps we are caused to reflect on our own lives: Happy times and sunny days. But also times of anxiety and hopelessness, times when we have been very aware of the frailty of our own flesh. But in all these things, Jesus has been there before us. It is in this Holy week that we feel closest to Jesus, and it was on the cross that He became closest to us. He experienced what it is like to be truly human - to be separated from God by sinful human nature without hope of reconciliation - to die our death.

Death is the consequence of sin, but He was without sin so how could that work? Well it couldn’t, and by dying our death, He broke its power over us and reconciled us to God.

As we share with Jesus the Easter story once again, so to do we share the reality of resurrection. I wonder if those people waving their palms and shouting Hosanna even began to comprehend the true significance of the man on the donkey that day. And how, by the end of the week, He would change humankind’s relationship with God forever.

I want to take you back to that day now, and for you to imagine that you’re one of the children of Jerusalem, as mentioned in that favourite Palm Sunday hymn:

One day you become aware of a commotion, a crowd is gathering, naturally you go and see what’s happening, you pass the soldiers who are standing around chatting, and those religious men with the long beards... you don’t like them! You push yourself to the front of the crowd,  A man is approaching riding on a donkey and people are throwing their cloaks in front of him, cheering and waving palm branches. People are saying that it’s Jesus, but you don’t know who he is, He looks like a good man though...a kind man, He is coming past you now and you’re sure he sees you...........You’re just a young and carefree child enjoying the sunshine and the spectacle, but He catches your eye, and smiles at you. Someone gives you a palm branch and you wave it enthusiastically and shout ‘Hosanna!’ at the top of your voice.

Then He turns His face back towards Jerusalem….. Now certain that He must complete the task that lies ahead of Him.

Amen

A prayer

Lord Jesus, as we remember your triumphant entry into Jerusalem that day, and picture that happy scene of celebration, we remember happy times in our own lives with grateful thanks. And at this time of great uncertainty and anxiety we remember that you felt these emotions too, that first Holy week. Yet undaunted you went to the cross to reconcile us with God. Help us to draw comfort from this in these uncertain times and rest in the sure knowledge that the cares of this life will fall away one day and that we can be with you in eternity.

Amen

#ClapForCarers / #ClapForTheNHS

Last Thursday Lynn, Maxine and myself took part in the #ClapForCarers / #ClapForTheNHS. At 8.00pm many people stood outside their front door (or somewhere appropriate) and showed our support for our NHS workers and carers with a round of applause. In our street this included drums, saucepans & wooden spoon, bells and a Bodhrán (Irish drum)!

Across the country thousands of people expressed their appreciation for the amazing response of our NHS staff following the unprecedented demand which has fallen on them. The praise, support, positive comments and gifts of appreciation are all fully justified and well deserved: Never before have we valued our health service so passionately?

This reminds us all that we need to value and appreciate each other. Sometimes a simple ‘thank you’ can speak volumes and affirm how grateful we are. In times of crisis when we are forced to struggle with all sorts of challenges, it is good to express our thanks to those who help us, in whatever way. However, this must not be something we only reserve for times of challenge and the unknown. We must express our appreciation at all times and demonstrate to everyone that they are valued, appreciated and loved – in the same way God values and loves you and me. “See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.” (Isaiah 49: 16).

My fear is (and I sincerely hope I’m wrong), that when we return to ‘normal’ the mammoth effort made by the NHS and many other people will so easily be forgotten. May we keep them, and all we remember and give thanks for, ‘engraved on the palms of our hands’.

Stay blessed and stay safe.

Deacon Andy Packer

And from Rev Sonia Hicks a second message:  https://www.methodistthamesvalley.org.uk/

(Circuit website)