Reflection: Sunday 3rd July and for the week ahead:Scripture:‘You reap whatever you sow.’ (Galatians 6.7)Reflection:References to sowing and reaping appear frequently throughout both the Old and New Testaments, and their meaning is perfectly clear, not only to farmers and gardeners, but to everybody. The concept is even used, so I’m told, in business and banking: no profit without investment!Here St Paul is talking about the sowing of spiritual ‘seeds’.If what we contribute to our community is selfishness, unkindness, negativity and constant criticism of others, these things take hold and spread like weeds.If, on the other hand, we ‘sow to the Spirit’(v.8) we harvest the fruit of the Spirit, identified by Paul as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. We pray for this life enhancing fruit, that it will take deep root both in each of us and in our community. Revd Rosemary Kobus van Wengen
Reflection: Sunday 26th June and for the week ahead:Scripture:When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. (Luke 9 - 51)Reflection:Jesus knew it was likely that he would be arrested. He also suspected that he might even die. Can you imagine the storm of emotions that must have been whirling around in Jesus’s mind and heart? Yet he decided to make the journey to Jerusalem! Throughout the Gospels we see evidence of Jesus’s faith and trust in God. Today’s verse is an example of the depth of trust Jesus had in God. Do we have such faith? I hope so. We have to nurture our faith and trust in God each and every day! This creates a foundation and a relationship with God that will support and sustain us whenever we are in need. Today and every day let’s ask Jesus to deepen our trust and faith in him!Lyn Hayes, ALM