A Very Happy Christmas
and a
Peaceful New Year
to You
and to Our World

Matt 11:2-11 John the Baptist

We discussed who he was – the messenger of the long awaited Messiah, living off the land in the Judaean wilderness where he preached repentance to everyone, and baptised them. Was this location a concrete prophetic sign that the people should once more return to the desert to encounter God afresh and prepare for God's chosen one?

Today's reading has moved on and John has been imprisoned by Herod, the local ruler. What would John feel like? Defeated, disorientated? - probably in a dark dungeon, a great contrast to the wide spaces and skies of the desert. Not surprisingly he doubted his mission, and even who Jesus was. Are we sometimes imprisoned by problems of ourselves or our families, or of the world in which we live. Do we question our faith? Hopefully we do! Hopefully we try to work out how what we believe, fits in with the situation we're in – we agreed in a helpful discussion that this is difficult, and there are no easy answers. Yet this is how our faith can grow and become more meaningful in our lives.

Christian experience through the ages often tells of famous saints who doubted and questioned. We spent a little time thinking of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, also in prison facing a death at the whim of an unstable ruler. In 'Letters and Papers from Prison' he evaluates his faith and tries to make it relevant to his situation and the changing circumstances of modern life. His question, 'What do we really believe in such a way that we stake our lives on it' ? was John's question too, and should be ours.

Jesus' answer was one which left John to work it out for himself, though he would easily recognise the allusions to Old Testament prophecy; yet he would have to come to terms with a Messiah probably very different from what he expected, and to learn that God acts in surprising ways.

Who is Jesus? - we should be glad that John who met Jesus face to face, nevertheless had to struggle with this question – so it's OK for us too. Today's pink Advent candle reminds us that John, despite his doubts, really was the messenger of the good news of Jesus – whose birth we shall very soon be celebrating.

Judith

November 21 - Christ the King

Luke 23:33-43

We considered the great contrast between celebrating Christ as our triumphant, risen, ascended King and the scene in the gospel reading of Jesus crucified with 2 criminals. We also considered some of the words spoken to find out more about Jesus our King and his kingdom. First we discussed 'Father forgive.....' - amazing forgiveness, compassion, unconditional love for everyone there and, we believe, for us.

This is in contrast to people's reaction, probably the same as today; many would be getting on with their own concerns. Yet the religious leaders, though they acknowledged Jesus had done some good, mocked him. The soldiers doing their job and one of the criminals joined the refrain of 'Save yourself....' but paradoxically by not saving himself, Jesus saved everyone else, and us. So again back to the values of the Kingdom – trust in God and unconditional love.

The other criminal showed compassion and a sense of justice and even an insight that Jesus' death was not the end and apparent defeat it appeared to be. Jesus too showed his real authority in his promise to him. But is it possible to live out these values today? We heard a story of a couple who did that, transforming their own lives shattered by the pointless murder of their son, and those of the prisoners they work with on schemes of restorative justice – and motivated by their strong Christian faith, So does today challenge us to reflect how we live our lives With Jesus help can we try to follow him more and so spread his kingdom of justice, peace and amazing love?

Judith Platt

November 14 - Remembrance Sunday

Our Remembrance Service this year took a very different form. Our worship was in three parts; the first was given to considering the true meaning of “Blessed are the Peacemakers”. We explored that being a Peacemaker is not the same as being a lover of peace, and its consequent struggle.

In our congregation we have a 94-year old sailor and during the second part of the service, we listened to accounts of his life on board a battleship and his war service. Harry’s recollections were divided by reflective Taizé music and power point images.

In our final section, we had a full Act of Remembrance, again accompanied by images on power point, with the Last Post, two minutes silence, closing with Reveille and the National Anthem, to honour all those who have given their lives in the cause of Peace.

Our songs included among others, Eternal Father (Harry’s favourite), God is our strength and Refuge (to the Dambusters’ music), songs about peace and closed with O Jesus, I have promised.

I think it was a very thought-provoking time of worship and it was appreciated by many people.

Deacon Olivia

Remembrance Sunday raises many questions and issues, symbolised by the red and white poppies of the illustration, you are invited to discuss them here ...

November 7 - Jesus Light of the World

I have been very troubled by all the hype surrounding Halloween this year, and for its effect on children and young people. I decided therefore, to hold a service of light in which everyone could take part, to show how Christians can live in the Light and reflect Jesus in the world, by showing the Good News of Jesus’ love for everyone.

So what did we do? We began with lighting a large candle from which everyone was invited to light votive candles, and then actively searched around the hall for different kinds of light. Some were designed to show us the way, some were designed to be prepared, and of course there were Icons and Candles showing that Jesus is the Light of the World, who will never leave us. We wrote our practical plans on how we can show Jesus’ love in the world, and displayed the bright post it notes for all to see.

Our prayer time was a practical demonstration of Holman Hunt’s “Light of the World” – lantern and all! – and the St. Patrick’s breastplate prayer was used as a focus for our thoughts and all our songs were about light and love.

My prayer is that you will all carry Christ’s light and love into the world with you, where-ever you go.

Every blessing, Deacon Olivia.

Sunday September 12 - Luke 15: 11 - 32

Waiting for the Prodigal

Thank you to all of you who joined in with and contributed to our conversation on the Prodigal Son story and its meaning for ourselves today. Please do continue the conversation here.

Links to the three videos shown can be found below:

The Parent's Perspective

The Child's Perspective

All Are Accepted Here

Peter

It seems time has passed by without us realising it ! For various reasons we've neglected to post over the past few weeks. Please bear with us over the Summer - normal service will be resumed in September.

Sunday May 16 - Ascension

Yes, I know that Ascension is on a Thursday, but since TFG only happens on a Sunday, it is good to take the opportunity for celebrating all the Church’s Festivals.

So, Ascension! Although Christ is no longer with us in person, he lives within each of us; we therefore opened our worship with Rejoice! Rejoice! Christ is in you. We had an exciting selection of songs, which all brought a challenge and our prayer time was led by Marilyn.

As our speaker for the morning, we once again welcomed Fr. David Knight, who writes:

-A mountain-top church

-a suspension bridge

-an olde book

-a dustbin

-a cloud

all featured in the TFG service last Sunday, and all connected in their various ways with the strange happening we call "The Ascension" Good News indeed for us peasantry: we are promised a share in Jesus' new/old exalted state of Being, if we keep trusting him. An unlikely bit of religiosity becomes more than relevant!

Full marks to Fr Edward our Rector for his courage and insight in launching TFG as an alternative to the traditional worship across the road; full marks to Deacon Olivia and her team in transforming the vision into a structured format with a vibrant freedom- a rare mixture.

Thank you too, to Fr. David, who has a real gift for this style of worship. So to all of you who have never experienced TFG – why not drop in one Sunday at 9.45am.

I hope to see you soon.

Deacon Olivia

Sunday May 9 - Christian Aid Week

"1.4 billion people across the world live in poverty. This is unacceptable."

"From time to time we need to expose ourselves to areas of hurt and human suffering because when our hearts are soft God can use us."

At TFG this morning we were invited to take a journey in word and image to Kenya and to see a community where Christian Aid is working with local people to develop sanitation and clean water. In a timely way whilst we in Britain were preoccupied with our own political and economic issues we heard the words of Catherine Kithuku from the Matopeni slum in Nairobi, who we saw on the Christian Aid film:

I pray for change.
I pray to live a clean, comfortable life with privacy ...
Most of all I pray for clean water.

After seeing the film we heard retold the NT vision of a "new heaven and a new earth" and were invited to write or draw what this might mean for us and for the people of Kenya and to take what we had written / drawn home to reflect on during the week.

For further details go to: http://www.christianaid.org.uk/

For the latest press release from Christian Aid on the formation of a new government click here

Peter K

April 11th "...so that you may have life..." John 20: 19-31

The scene is set: Palm Sunday, the arrest and trial of Jesus, His crucifixion and burial have all taken place. Now Jesus has risen and appeared to Mary and some others. He is not a ghost because he ate food with the two men who travelled on the road to Emmaus and with some disciples on the seashore.

Jesus appears to ten of the disciples in a locked upper room. Judas, who betrayed Him, is gone and, for some reason, Thomas is not present either. How do they feel? Confused. They still haven't really taken in what has happened. Jesus says to them "Peace" (Shalom) which will calm their hearts. He shows them His hands and side. Then after repeating "Peace" he breathes on them saying "Receive the Holy Spirit".

So, where was Thomas? We are not told. Maybe he needed to be on his own to sort out his thoughts and feelings. Who was He? He was present at the raising of Lazarus but we know little about him. Jesus told the disciples "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life" after Thomas had asked how they could know the way. As Thomas was not present when Jesus appeared, the others told him about it. However, he had his doubts.

A week later, Jesus appeared again. Again, He said to them "Peace"This time, Thomas was present. Jesus offered Thomas the opportunity to put his fingers into the nail prints and his hand into Jesus' side. We are not told whether he did or not, but it is clear that he believed and responded with the words "My Lord and My God"

The gospel writer, John, tells us that there were many other signs that are not recorded but "these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name."

So, what can we learn from this story?

Jesus gives us peace

He sends us out to share the Good News empowered by His Holy Spirit

Doubt is not wrong if it leads to questions and the answers which then strengthen our faith.

We can say "Jesus is my Lord and my God"

Passion Sunday March 21 - "Because You're Worth It"

Mary Anoints Jesus Jn 12:1-8

Mary's action is highly symbolic. The perfumed oil with which she anointed Jesus' feet was very expensive, probably about a year's wages. It was a reminder of Jesus' burial, and taking place in the gospel just before Palm Sunday foreshadows his suffering and death a few days later – a reminder to us also at this stage in Lent.

Her action – reckless, extravagant and even scandalous – Jewish women were expected to cover their heads in public- can also be a reminder of Jesus' own humility at the Last Supper when he washed the disciples' feet. Did her generous gesture of a costly gift also include herself? – kneeling at Jesus' feet she she showed him her faith and love. Mary had just seen Jesus raise her brother Lazarus from the dead. Did she see and begin to understand who Jesus was? - Jesus who a few days later would suffer a cruel death out of love for the whole world.

We considered Mary's action showed just how much she valued Jesus – in contrast to Judas who questioned her action. Judas put a price on Jesus' head and betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver, the price of a slave in the OT. He had been close to Jesus for longer than probably Mary but could not see what to her was so clear.

Other responses to Jesus in the reading include Martha who provided a meal and in serving him showed others her love for him and Lazarus who welcomed him. Hopefully we try to follow the examples of Mary, Martha and Lazarus but are we sometimes like Judas? Do we always remember just how precious Jesus and his love is? This challenging story raises the question what really does matter in our lives? What is Jesus worth to us? - something to reflect on as we approach Holy Week, Good Friday and Easter.

Judith Platt