Dear Friends,
I’m sure all of us have been deeply moved by the traumatic events in Beirut this week and will be praying for the people who have been bereaved and injured. It puts our own struggles with coronavirus restrictions in perspective.
This Sunday, I will be addressing in my sermon the Old Testament concept that if people obey God’s commandments they will be blessed, live in peace, and have a long life. They linked good behaviour with good things happening to them and earning a relationship with God, something that we still hold onto in our society to some extent (‘righteousness by law’). But of course we know that life isn’t like that, it isn’t a formula, sometimes bad things happen to good people, such as devastating illness or premature loss of life, and as St Paul argues in Romans 10, a relationship with God cannot be earnt by good behaviour, but is only by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ (‘righteousness by faith’). As he says in v9, ‘if you confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.’
There is a theme in both our Romans 10 reading and the Gospel (Matthew 14.22-33) that God can be trusted to help us when we are in trouble. In the Gospel, Jesus comes to the disciples walking on the water, and Peter wants to be out there with him in the storm, but he finds that his faith isn’t strong enough, and begins to sink. I wonder if some of us can relate to Peter? We may feel strong in our faith when we are surrounded by other Christians, feeling supported by their fellowship when we meet together in church, and yet when we step out alone, we can wobble. Some of us may feel like we are sinking at the moment, due to the effects of prolonged isolation, grief about all that we have lost, and despair about the future, with the coronavirus restrictions seeming to be endless. Let us be encouraged, that just as Jesus reached out and pulled Peter to safety, our God longs to reach out to us in love, and help us to grow in faith, and in confidence, as he walks alongside us in the turmoil and the uncertainty. Like sunflowers who turn their faces to the sun throughout the day, we need to be people who keep looking to Jesus, acknowledging that we can’t do this in our own strength, but he is faithful, and his word can be trusted.
Next Sunday we will have a focus on children, as Robin Gamble comes to preach (by the wonders of modern technology!) in our online service. Do watch it if you can, as he helps us think about what it is that we want to impart to our children and grandchildren.
Our first Sunday service back in church is on 23rd August. Do join us if you can, for our first Sunday service in church since 15th March. We will have a time of thanksgiving, and Shirley will be preaching. In the early weeks, we will have just one service each Sunday, a Parish Communion service which starts at 9.30am, so please come early, to allow time for checking in, and for the Churchwardens to find you a suitable ‘physically distanced’ place to sit. Would you also please wear a face covering when you come. If you do not feel safe or able to come out, don’t worry, we will continue online Sunday services and Wednesday dial-in services for the time being, and we will also continue the weekly deliveries of these letters and goody bags to those who are not online, with many thanks to Lorna and Lesley. ABC Church and Sunday School will be continuing online for the moment (see the Notices for details). Our priority is that people stay safe and well.
A blessing
May you find grace to turn your face towards God’s love in Jesus Christ,
may your heart be held by hope,
and may you stand firm in the peace and presence of our Lord.
Amen.
With grace and peace,
Sue McWhinney
sue@stjohnsfarsley.org.uk
07484 181699