Epiphany 2011

Epiphany – Christ shown to the World; all right then – manifested if you prefer. So how did we do it?

Well – I filled a gold gift bag with ‘silver’ coins, which we all ate!

I found some frankincense sticks and shared some olive body cream around the TFG congregation to symbolize the Wise Men’s gifts.

We talked about what the gifts symbolised and had lots of activities for all the age groups represented; we had lots of fun in doing all that was offered.

Using an acrostic G I F T S, we discussed what each letter could stand for, both in Jesus’ life, and in ours; our Christian life, journey and mission.

We also sang lots of songs including: Come & join the celebration, O come all ye faithful, Joy to the World, See Him lying on a bed of straw; together with sundry ‘wise men’ songs: We three kings (the sensible version not the playground one!), As with gladness, men of old..

Finally, we laid slips of paper marked ‘gold, frankincense and myrrh’ next to the Advent Candle ring as a sign of our New Year commitment to Christ.

It was an exciting start to 2011 – why not come and join us?

Deacon Olivia

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