Saturday 16 February - Meditation

From today's gospel reading....You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven;

from Luke 9

To reflect on....
I am called to show Jesus’ immense love to those around me – even to those who consider themselves my ‘enemies’.

Let's Pray....
Lord Jesus Christ, even on the cross you said, ‘Father, forgive.’ As we have been forgiven, so teach us to be gracious and generous in forgiving others when they upset or hurt us. Amen.

A day to say Wow

Do you ever have one of those days - nothing spectacular happens as far as the busyness. It was a day off with day off things to do - washing laundry, cleaning windows, cooking, washing up - you know how it is - yet in the midst of it is God.

I guess it sounds strange. If you haven't come across the new Kathryn Jenkins CD and in particular the song "Rejoice" then you are missing a treat (thanks Sally). The words below are simply "wow"

So come and rejoice
Come and rejoice
And you don�t even have to make a sound
I feel it in your touch
You sing it with you eyes
What was lost is found


No sound, no words, just a smile and a knowing that to love God is to worship him in all things. A wow day......

Friday 15 February - Meditation

From today's gospel reading....
So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.

from Matthew 5

To reflect on....
Do I bear grudges to those who have hurt or offended me? As a child of God, am I able to be open and honest, in a spirit of love and humility, with others in God’s family?

Let's Pray....
Gracious God, you have taught us the way of forgiveness and reconciliation. May I always be open to see the ways in which I can bring reconciliation into your hurting world. Amen.

Thursday 14 February - Meditation

From today's gospel reading....
'In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.

from Matthew 7

To reflect on....
Who is my neighbour? Whom am I called to love?

Let's Pray....
Loving God, fill my heart with an abundance of your love today that it might overflow towards others in a small reflection of your overflowing love for me.
Amen.

Wednesday 13 February - Meditation

From today's gospel reading....
For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise at the judgement with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here!

from Luke 11

To reflect on....
Jonah was sent as a powerful preacher to the City of Nineveh. When the City heard him they repented. Similarly, Jesus was calling people to repentance.
Do we recognise Jesus for who he truly is? And are we now called to be a ‘corporate’ Jonah in the world – pointing to God’s forgiveness and grace?

Let's Pray....
God of Jonah, may we too be willing to stand up and be counted for you – willing to speak and live out your forgiveness and grace in our own lives. Amen.

Tuesday 12 February - Meditation

From today's gospel reading....

When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

from Matthew 6

To reflect on....
We don’t need to use complicated words and phrases with God. God is our loving parent and just like a parent delights to hear their child chatting to them about their lives and concerns, so does God with us.

Let's Pray....
Loving and caring parent, give me a heart wide open to you today, that I might come and speak to you as you beloved child. Amen.

Monday 11 February - Meditation

From today's gospel reading....
“Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we
saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you
clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”

from Matthew 25

To reflect on....
What does God expect of me in my response to suffering and global inequalities? Who is my neighbour?

Let's Pray....
Suffering God, you let nothing stand in your way of redeeming us, even though the cost was so immense. May I, in some part, be a reflection of you in the world. Amen.

Sunday 10 February - Meditation

From today's gospel reading....
The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But he answered, ‘It is written,
“One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” ’

from Matthew 4

To reflect on....
We sometimes puzzle how we can hear the word of God to us, forgetting that we have a most precious source of communication from God. Do I take time to read the Bible regularly? Is there a reading scheme or pattern that I can use to help me when I have finished with these notes?

Let's pray....
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I thank you for the wonderful gift of your written word that you have provided. I thank you for the faithfulness of Christians through the ages who have passed on your word. Generous God, teach me to treasure your written word. Amen.

Saturday 9 February - Meditation

From today's gospel reading....
The Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his disciples, saying, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax-collectors and sinners?’ Jesus answered, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.’

from Luke 5
To reflect on ....
Despite all our good intentions, we will always fail at some point – because we are human. Praise God that Jesus came for us sinners – to redeem us and to give us his Holy Spirit.

Let's Pray....
We thank you, loving God, for redeeming us even when we continue to fail. Thank you for standing us on our feet again. I commit myself to doing all in my power to follow you faithfully and seek to do your will during this season. Amen

Friday 8 February - Meditation

From today's Gospel reading....
Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, ‘Why do we and the Pharisees fast often,* but your disciples do not fast?’ And Jesus said to them, ‘The wedding-guests cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

from Matthew 9

To reflect on....
Is this a time for learning what true fasting means? Fasting means abstaining from food or drink, to focus on spiritual growth. Fasting and praying were often linked together – Acts 13:3 and Acts 14:23- and often associated with making decisions. True fasting is an enabler for focussing on God instead of the things of the world. Are we giving time to God this Lent?

Let's pray....
My God, may I always be aware of you in my everyday life. Teach me how to have a closer walk with you and help me this Lent to draw near to you, listen to your word to me and act upon it. Amen.

Thursday 7 February - Meditation

From today's gospel....
Then he said to them all, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their
cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save
their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for
my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they
gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves?

from Luke 9

To reflect on....
Do any of us, in our relatively secure and comfortable society, know what it is really like to deny ourselves? What do Jesus’ words mean for me – now, this day and this Lent?

Let's Pray....
Lord of Lent, Lord of my life, teach me to grow in understanding of your words that I might live more to your glory each day. Amen.

6 February - Ash Wednesday - Meditation

From today's gospel reading....
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’

from Matthew 6

To reflect on....
What are the important things in my life? Is it security, money, recognition, status, other people, my own welfare? Perhaps something else?
Should we use this time in Lent to change our priorities and place God at the centre of our lives again?

Let's Pray....
Loving God, at the start of this Lenten season, we ask that you will lead us and inspire us to give time to you each day, so that we might nurture and deepen our relationship with you. Amen.

Lenten Meditation Booklet

Journey to the Cross...

After various comments received in relation to the Advent Meditation booklet please find following Lenten Meditations. Entitled "Journey to the Cross" it seeks to enable others to explore the journey our Lord took.

January Review

Sorry for the delay in blogs - no real excuse except planning for the orientation project etc.

So January was an eventful month:

# Car broke down 5 times
# Computer broke down (crashed)and needed a three day recovery period
# Radiator leaked

Of course whilst these can dominate other things have also happened.

# A powerful joint convenant service with Latcford and Bold Street
# Links with the high school for assemblies
# Delivered orientation project to committee
# Preached at three churches together services (though I think my colleagues saying the new member of clergy always does it was a bit far fetched)
# Heptagon played at Chester Cathedral
# Finished writing the lenten meditation booklet
# Organised Heptagon's Radio Merseyside recordings.

and finally...

# Got the script for the Latchford Pantomime - Maisy Doolittle is my stage name!!!
# Thought I had a funny phone call when my main line phone rang and I heard rustling - despite hanging up and trying to use the phone three times the rustling remained.... I then realised I had sat on my mobile phone in my pocket and had called myself - what excitement.
# Confessed about gerbil washing at Event....

So an eventful January .. role on February.

Happy New Year

Never would i have guessed this time last year that i'd be here today. It is almost a year since I heard that Warrington was my destination. And so the final day of 07 has gone and the first day of 08 has gone too. How time flies and moves on.

The time has been amazing as has the Christmas period - services, reflections and time spent together has been wonderful.