TEXT FOR THE MONTH:
If we say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the
truth is not in us. However, if we confess our sins God is faithful and just
and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1
John 1 v 8-9
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
The radicalism of Christ’s way must challenge us.
He does not want us to win numbers but dedicated hearts. And he does not
promise security, either economic or otherwise. He seeks those who want to give
themselves unreservedly to God and to their brothers, without seeking anything
for themselves.
Discipleship J Henrich Arnold
FROM THE VICAR
Ash Wednesday falls on the 28th of February this year and we hope you will join us in church on that day at 8pm for our annual service to mark that special occasion.
As we approach Lent this year many of us, I am sure, will find it hard to embrace some of the values that Lent is so well-known for. We live such busy lives, we are blessed in a material way beyond the dreams of even our own grandparents, but more to the point we live today in such a secular atmosphere that it is easy to lose touch with many of the core spiritual values of Christianity and of Lent. However, Lent does provide us with a challenge which, if responded to, brings great spiritual rewards. To begin with, we have the challenge to repent of any attitudes that we have towards others, towards God, or even towards ourselves, which we know to be wrong. As we examine our own hearts, and compare them with Jesus’ attitudes to those around him and to his heavenly Father, we can often feel inadequate, unworthy, to be called by him into Christian discipleship. Yet this feeling of unworthiness is, as it were, the very thing that Christ is looking for in his disciples.
Do you remember the story of the Pharisee and the tax-collector. The Pharisee said “I thank you that I am not like other people”. The tax-collector could not even stand up in the presence of God, so conscious was he of his sin, and yet it was he and not the Pharisee who went home justified (Luke chapter 18). The second challenge is to be still, to be quiet, to realise that God loves us just as we are. We do not need to earn his love. He has forgiven us through sending Jesus to the cross to forgive us for our sins. The theme of penitence when decoupled from the realisation of forgiveness produces a morbid mood of inadequacy and despair. However, when we know we are sinful yet at the same time know we are forgiven then we begin to understand something deeper about the love of God.
The final challenge is to pray. One of the things I shall pray about this coming Lent is that God will shape my mind to think in his way, and not in the world’s way. The world always asks questions like “How successful are you?”, “How well are you doing?”, “Are you working hard enough?”. God asks us questions like “Do you love me?”, “Do you love the people around you?” “Are you putting my love into your work?”. God wants us to enjoy our lives, and use them as an act of spiritual sacrifice which richly repays us in terms of peace and joy as we offer ourselves to him each day.
Let us pray that this Lent we may be led by our God to rise to his challenges.
Simon Tillotson
This letter appears in the parish magazine. To subscribe to the magazine please email Brian Eddy or contact the church office.
Past Thoughts
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