Sunday 21st June - Refugee Sunday
We'll be focussing on Albania - so .... brush up your facts!
Sunday 14th June - Church Anniversary
and a baptism to celebrate too!
Sunday 31st May & 7th June - Pentecost & Trinity
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Sunday 10th, 17th & 24th May
"Through the eyes of a child"
3 weeks to think through the Gospel stories that involve children.
1. John 6:1-13 - The boy with the five loaves and two fish
How did this situation appear to that boy? and to the adults?
Did he willingly offer his picnic to Jesus or did the adults contrive to get it from him?!
2. Luke 8:40-56 & 49-56 - Jairus' daughter
How did this situation appear to the adults? and to the girl?
What do we learn from her story?
3. Matthew 19:13-15 - the children Jesus blessed
What is the Church's attitude to children?
What should it be? What do we learn from watching Jesus?
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LENT series 2009
Each Sunday through Lent we will be thinking through the "I am" sayings of Jesus recorded in the Fourth Gospel, and reflecting on the relevance of these words to our lives today.
Sunday 12th April - Easter Day
Jesus said "I am the resurrection and the life"
In celebration and as a sign of the new things that ours in union with the risen Christ, the ladies were invited to wear hats to church. A great turnout too. Well done!
And many thanks to the newly formed choral group
Sunday 5th April - Lent 6 Palm Sunday
Jesus said "I am the true vine"
I wonder what it might mean to "abide" in Christ?
How do we know if we are producing the right kind of fruit?
How can we ensure that we keep connected to the life source?
Sunday 29th March - Lent 5
Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life"
"The Way" - to where? or to who? or to what?
"The Truth" - but what is truth?
"The Life" - what makes for real living?
Sunday 22nd March - Lent 4
Jesus said "I am the Good Shepherd"
There's plenty of shepherding-sheep imagery in the Bible - just think of Psalm 23 or some of the criticism that the prophets mete out to irresponsible religious leaders.
Jesus asserts himself as the good shepherd in a culture well acquainted with the importance of good shepherding
I wonder whether this metaphor still works for us in 2009?
What do we make of the reference to "the other sheep in another fold"? Are we they? Or . . ?
"I know my sheep" - Do we find these words more comforting or more challenging
Sunday 15th March - Lent 3
Jesus said "I am the Gate"
What's the significance of gateways?
Is Jesus claiming to be "a" way or the "only" way or the "best" way through which to come to God? What other issues does this imagery raise for us?
Jesus doesn't claim to offer an escape from the world and its issues, but rather a safe base from which we have freedom and security to live "life to the full" (John 10:10).
Sunday 8th March - Lent 2
Jesus said "I am the Light of the World"
Light and darkness are major themes in the Bible.
Just look up the number of times Jesus used this imagery.
We can probably easily identify darkness, but is it always so easy to define or to distinguish and what about the murky areas in between?!
Sunday 1st March - Lent 1
Jesus said "I am the Bread of Life"
We noted the context of these words, spoken after a great crowd of people had been fed by Jesus.
Andrew had found a lad with a picnic - 5 small loaves and 2 fish, but "what is that among so many"?
We also thought about the many and various occasions throughout the Bible when people at the end of their human resources find their strength renewed through the providence of God.
Jesus comes as the one who can fulfil the hunger in our lives.
Why then, do we sometimes begin to believe that we can find the same fulfilment in other things?
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Sunday 22nd February
The Sunday before Lent - The transfiguration
We skip forward to Mark 9, half way through the Gospel, from where Mark has Jesus setting his face resolutely toward Jerusalem.
The mountain top experience seems to change the disciples' view of Jesus.
It also leaves them confused and wanting to build a monument.
How do we deal with the life-changing of faith-changing experiences of our journey?
Sunday 15th February
Mark 1 ends with the third in a series of healing miracles. Jesus is approached by a man suffering from a feared skin disease. Asked if he dare associate with the man, Jesus states he is willing and his touch brings healing.
Again, there are plenty of links with the present day - Who are the "untouchables" in our place and time? dare we cross the boundaries to associate ourselves with them and bring something of a healing, restorative touch? notice too, in this episode, it's the religious community who pronounce "inclusion" - I wonder how we share that work today?
Sunday 8th February
Having been to the synagogue, the boys go to Simon and Andrew's home, possibly hoping for lunch! Simon's mother-in-law, however has taken to her bed. Jesus enters the situation and changes it, and she ministers to them.
Later we read how Jesus takes time out alone for prayer. (Mark 1:29-39)
There are plenty of issues arising from this passage that link with our lives - the relationship between prayer and service, the impact of Jesus on family life, how we set priorities when there are many demands on our time . . . . .
Sunday 1st February
Continuing in the first chapter of Mark's Gospel, we read about Jesus teaching in the synagogue. The people are amazed at his authority.
Then there's an interruption as a man begins shouting out . . . !
I wonder how we react when our plans are disrupted or when we are interrupted in a task - Notice how Jesus reacts!! (Mark 1:21-28)
Sunday 25th January
"Will you come and follow me?"
The Gospel passage for the week is Mark 1:14-20 where Jesus calls 2 sets of fishermen brothers. We're told that hearig the call, immediately they leave their nets and follow Jesus, taking up the challenge to be "fishers of men".
We wondered . . . What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus?
What is "fishing for people" about?
What attracts people to follow Jesus?
Why are we followers of Jesus?!
Sunday 18th January
Another First for the Forest!
We celebrated the best of Methodist and Anglican worship by sharing together.
Over breakfast, we pondered the meaning of "Unity" and the common ground and common challenges we share as Christians in this place. We shared some lively discussion!
We also had a dip into "Presence" - the report from the 2004 Methodist Conference about how to create and develop "Effective Christian Presence" in small communities.
We then moved to the Parish Church and shared the bread and wine of Communion together.