From Mary Vellacott
I came across the following recently and it spoke to me of life today and particularly our parish life. We are at a crossroads and a time of change, yet all this is in God’s hands and He is in control, so look at this verse,
“In the time of my favour I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you. I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6 v 2)
There’s no time like God’s time and God’s time is now. It was the time of God’s favour when his Son Jesus was born in Bethlehem. It was God’s time when Jesus read from Isaiah’s prophesy and proclaimed that it is now fulfilled. It was God’s time when Jesus called his disciples to follow Him. It was God’s time when He preached and taught and healed. It was God’s time when He was taken and tried and crucified. It was God’s time when His tomb was opened and resurrection life became real.
And now it is the time of God’s favour, it is His day of salvation. In this faithless, violent and fractured world, Jesus calls us to follow Him, to be his caring and healing hands, His voice speaking out for the voiceless people, to use our resources, talents and energies in setting about His ministry of love to all.
What do we think of as we approach Easter? Daffodils, primroses, baby bunnies, chicks and Easter eggs. Once again rejoice in all the new life at this time of year. Shall we examine our lives and see whether we are experiencing the new life that God can give us? Are we ready and prepared for the new opportunities that are awaiting us in the coming weeks as we look forward to receiving a new incumbent? Working together to build up the life of our church and sharing with those around us the peace and joy that knowing and sharing the friendship of God can bring us.
Over Lent we have been discussing “Can we build a better world?”. I don’t know what conclusions others have come to but I know that I am even more convinced that we cannot do this on our own. We need God’s help and that only comes to us when we spend time with him, in our personal prayer life, our study of his word and by our fellowship and worship together. With our new incumbent this is our opportunity to resolve to give more time to God and to his work, and so make our corner of His world a better place.
A Happy and blessed Easter to all!
Mary Vellacott
From Gill Lee: What’s in a day?
Are you a Monday person? Do you leap out of bed with a spring in your step and joy in your heart at the thought of another week? Or is “Thank God it’s Friday” your weekly cry? So many factors will affect whether you are a Monday or a Friday person – the age you are, the job you do, family circumstances, natural disposition, and so on. The far more important question is, are you a Friday person or a Sunday person? Those of us who are Christians thank God for one momentous Friday when God so loved the world – none are excluded - that he gave his one and only Son. “This is real love” writes John, “It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins”. One amazing Friday! But if it had ended there, with agonizing, God-forsaken death on a Roman gibbet, where would we be as ‘Friday people’?
Are you a Friday person? Do you find yourself dwelling on the tragedies of life and unable to see the triumphs? Do you find it all too easy to dwell in the gloom of Good Friday and to forget that we are Resurrection people; that God brought triumph out of tragedy that first Easter Sunday, and continues to do the same today if we will let him? Sadly, too many Christians live as though Easter Sunday never happened, as though our “faith is futile . . if only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men” (1 Cor.15:17,19).
But we are Sunday people! “Now in a single victorious stroke of life, all three – sin, guilt, death – are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ. Thank God!” (1 Cor.15:57 Msg)
Max Lucado, in his book, “Six Hours One Friday,” tells the story of a missionary in Brazil who discovered a tribe of Indians in a remote part of the jungle. They lived near a large river. The tribe was in need of medical attention. A contagious disease was ravaging the population. People were dying daily. A hospital was not too far away — across the river, but the Indians would not cross it because they believed the river was inhabited by evil spirits. And to enter its water would mean certain death.
The missionary explained how he had crossed the river & was unharmed. But they were not impressed. He then took them to the bank & placed his hand in the water. They still wouldn’t go in. He walked into the water up to his waist & splashed water on his face. It didn’t matter. They were still afraid to enter the river. Finally, he dived into the river, swam beneath the surface until he emerged on the other side. He raised a triumphant fist into the air. He had entered the water & escaped. It was then that the Indians broke into a cheer & followed him across.
Jesus entered the river of death & came out on the other side. When he died, so did your sin and mine, and when he rose, so did our hope. “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through Our Lord Jesus Christ”(1 Cor. 15:57 NIV).
Happy Easter!
Gill Lee