Daily ScriptureVery truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and does not come under judgement, but has passed from death to life. (John 5 v 24)Daily ReflectionRemember the rich man in the Bible who asks Jesus what he must do to be saved? Jesus tells him to follow the ten commandments, and then to go and give all his wealth away and follow Him. He couldn't do the second part. The " believing" in Jesus in the verse above is the easy part - most of us would say that Jesus did exist, and some of us would go one step further, and say that they believe He is the Son of God. "Box ticked" on the way to eternal life! But what about the "hearing my word" part? Jesus came to turn the world upside down with his radical teachings - forgive those who have hurt you, love those you don't even like (!). Following Jesus means to do as He did when He was on the earth. Follow His example in our treatment of others. Yes, we will get it wrong - our human nature will often win out, over our God given nature, but God is interested in the motivation of our hearts, and the more we try to follow Jesus' example, the closer we come to eternal life - a life lived with God in love, peace and joy. This life is like a drop in the ocean, compared to the life still to come. That's what we need to be working towards. Vicki Young
Daily Scripture:35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” 37 Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” 40 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.” (Matt. 25:35-40)Daily ReflectionToday is the first Monday in the period that Christians call Lent. Lent is six weeks to prepare for Easter, six weeks to get ready to welcome Jesus as our saviour and celebrate his victory over death and evil. One way to prepare is to get our priorities right, to start to think more like our saviour and to take action. Let’s look at today’s reading; who are these members of the king’s family that we are encouraged here to care for? Why, they are those members of our own society that are least valued. Read that list again: There are the families who have to use the food bank, as the kitchen cupboard is bare and the Universal Credit payment is late. There are the homeless guys and girls on the street corner. There is the lonely and ill neighbour who could do with some help and the prisoner who has no visitors on a Sunday. So, how is it going?I am not just asking you who are reading this, I’m just as much asking myself. Together we could use these next six weeks to make a difference, however small, to someone’s life. He who is asking us is after all the King! How could we possibly say no?Revd Ylva
Daily Scripture:‘I gave an account of my ways and you answered me; teach me your decrees.Help me to understand the teaching of your commandments; then I will meditate on your wonders.’ (Psalm 119.26) Daily Reflection:A girl I knew tried to tell the man who wanted to marry her all her bad points, from her terrible cooking to her early morning grumpiness. Much as she loved him she could not believe that if he knew what she was really like he would still want to marry her.The young man listened patiently, then said, ‘I completely believe you. I’m sure everything you say is true. But I love you, the whole of you, just as you are, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you’.God created us. He knows the truth about us, our failures, our imperfections, our sinfulness. But he never stops loving us.Loving Father, help us to understand and follow your commandments.Revd. Rosemary
Next Service:10am Holy Communion ONLINE Holy Communion Service. Please see 'Services and Events' for a cut and paste link to this service. A Zoom Coffee morning follows the Sunday service.