God does not show favouritism – Every Member Ministry by Revd. Dr Joe MottramBaptism of Christ, First Sunday of Epiphany, Covenant Service Readings: Acts 10:34-43, Matthew 3:13-endOpening Prayer: God who shows no favouritism, stir your Holy Spirit within us and reveal your will for each of us today, in Jesus’ name. Amen.Introduction – Favouritism What is your favourite meal? What about your favourite place to be? It’s only natural to like some things or places more than others. Our brains respond differently to different stimuli, and we develop preferences from when we’re very young. When it comes to people too, there are some people who we will naturally prefer the company of compared to others. Some people become close friends and others less so. That’s fine as far as it goes, but there are times when having favourites becomes unfair, even unjust.I’m sure quite a few of us have experienced what it’s like to know that a friend, teacher, or boss has favourites. Maybe you were one, maybe you knew you weren’t. How did that feel? Perhaps you’ve seen or experienced discrimination because of your gender, or your hair or skin colour, where you were born, your accent or culture, whom you love? The day after we moved from the Netherlands to Germany, Arthur was sat in his high chair in the temporary accommodation we were staying in while I was feeding him breakfast. As I got up to clean away the bowls, he pushed away from the table with his feet and fell back, still strapped into his high chair, hitting the back of his head. We took him to the city hospital to get checked over. We had purchased temporary health insurance but our German wasn’t very good and the receptionist was really difficult with us, treating us as a hassle, as stupid foreigners, and completely unmoved by our pleas that our 1 year-old be seen quickly. Arthur was eventually seen and very quickly taken to a ward for observation, though in the end there were no lasting physical issues for him. However, no matter how much the doctors later apologised, or how many nice people we met as we settled in, that sense of being an unwelcome outsider, of knowing that we might be discriminated against, left me feeling alienated and alone.When I see discrimination and worse happening in our city and country, and people acting like of course they should be the favourites and others should not, this makes me both sad and angry.There are times too when people or even countries will claim that God is on their side, with the implication being that they are special and their opponents are not. Christians who claim this, and there have been many down the centuries, obviously haven’t read the book of Acts. Acts - God does not show favouritism Peter’s statement in our reading in Acts is very clear: “I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right” It was a big step for Peter himself to come to this realisation about God. Peter would have been raised in a culture where ethnic divides between Jew, Roman, Greek, and Samaritan were stark. He would also have grown up learning about how the Jews were God’s chosen people. Then as now, there is a short distance between chosen and favourite, special, better, that they were chosen because they are better, more worthy, than others.On the day of Pentecost, that is the first Pentecost in Jerusalem, Peter preached to his fellow Israelites. That was who Jesus had prioritised in his ministry and who received the Holy Spirit first. It made sense to start there. However, that wasn’t the whole of God’s plan. There were three Pentecosts, three outpourings of the Holy Spirit, and Peter was directly involved in them all. In the second outpouring, detailed in Acts 8, the Holy Spirit was received by believers in Samaria, as God reclaimed the people who had lost their Jewish Inheritance with the fall of the Northern Kingdom. In the third outpouring, detailed in Acts 10, Peter has a vision where God tells him repeatedly to kill and eat unclean animals. Peter resists this idea – he is a good Jew and has kept Kosher, Jewish food laws, all his life. But God tells him ‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane’. God also gives a vision to a Roman Centurion names Cornelius to send for Peter. Peter gives the speech that we heard, this proclamation of the Gospel, to Cornelious and his household, and while Peter was still speaking the Holy Spirit falls on all who heard his words, most being Gentiles.Peter’s words are true – God truly does not show favouritism, but rather pours out the Holy Spirit and works with any and all who believe and commit to working with God.Matthew – the Baptism of Jesus Our reading of Matthew is another moment where the Holy Spirit is poured out, this time when Jesus is Baptised. Each member of the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are involved. We might wonder why Jesus needed to be baptised at all, or when he knew who he was and what his role would be in his Heavenly Father’s plans. Matthew doesn’t address these, though interestingly in his account Jesus has purposely chosen to come to the Jordan and be baptised. In doing so, Jesus chooses solidarity with all who have been Baptised in his name. Jesus’ first words in Matthew’s Gospel are ones of submission. ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness.’ His focus is on righteousness – doing the revealed will of God. Jesus shows his servant heart, his willingness to submit, right from his first moment as an active part of the narrative. In response God’s voice is heard, confirming ‘‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Such amazing affirmation before Jesus has really done anything. They reveal not only who Jesus is, but who God is too and on very profound level.Children of God, empowered by the Spirit And even here God doesn’t show favourites. Through faith in Jesus we are all adopted into God’s family. In the words of St Paul to the Galatians:“In Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” God doesn’t show favouritism – all are welcome, all adopted. Jesus died for each and every one of us. But God does choose to work with people. Baptism is the common expression of accepting that invitation, that saving help. The Holy Spirit guides and empowers those God’s children to be who we were made to be. One Spirit, diverse roles and gifts As we’ve thought about the Christmas Story together in recent weeks, have you noticed the wide range of people that God works? It’s true when we consider the presentation of Jesus in the Temple in a few weeks time too. Throughout the story we meet such a wide range of people – rich and poor, old and young, high and low station. The amazing thing is that each is given a chance to become part of God’s story, God’s plan. So many are willingly empowered by the Holy Spirit to play their part. Each is needed, each has a role to play, but each part is different too. Some said yes explicitly, some went and saw, some used their wisdom and learning, some shared their part of the story with others. All would have been missed if they had not made their contribution.In the next part of the service, we’ll be reflecting on the various roles, gifts, and experience that have contributed to our community over the past year, and those that will be needed in the year to come if we are to discern and follow God’s path for us. All of this must be and will be empowered by the Holy Spirit. I could do a whole series of 1 Corinthians 12 but I’ll spare you today.Some of us may be aware of the Holy Spirit explicitly, others not, but again God does not show favouritism. Each of us is given the gifts of the Holy Spirit we need for the role and season that God invites us into, and for the benefit of the whole rather than for ourselves. Sometimes we’ll need to put one thing down or pass it on to others in order to pick another thing up. One thing I do know is that all of us have a unique part to play. No-one is unimportant. There’s something only you can do, a part of God’s plan that has your name, your shape, to it, if you’ll just say yes. It might not always be simple, but God will be there with you as you walk in faith.So wherever you are in your walk with Jesus right now, may you know that you are a precious child of God loved and valued for being you. May you know that God loves each and every one of us without favouritism, and has capacity to love us all intimately and in ways beyond our understanding. May you sense the Holy Spirit nudging, counselling, and equipping you for the part in God’s plan that is you-shaped. But above all, may you hear the words of our heavenly Father’s to you today: “You are my child, whom I love, with you I am well pleased.” Amen.
Perhaps you’re someone who’s been looking forward to parties and presents, to lights and music as the weather has gotten colder and the nights get longer. Some of us will feel rushed off our feet, overwhelmed by all that needs to be prepared. Others may be feeling isolated and lonely, or apprehensive about the pressure to enjoy things and keep everyone happy.It can be so hard to get the balance right at this time of year. December comes with a swirl of emotions and there is a risk that we just end up going through the motions on autopilot.Jesus loved a party and for people to enjoy themselves. However, he was also quick to call out traditions when they were harmful or empty. The Jesus whose birth Christians celebrate on December 25th is the same man who said “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest,” and “Love God with all your heart, mind, body, and strength, and your neighbour as yourself.”So, amongst all the busyness of this month, can I encourage you to take time to pay attention to yourselves, and to those around you. Prioritise quality time and love over the best or most expensive gifts. Find time for both company and quiet. The churches across Hucclecote have lots of opportunities for sharing company and would be overjoyed to show you the love of this season, whether you want to sing carols, share your worries, dress up as a shepherd, or find friendship and community. May God bless you this month, and may you know how much you are loved.By Rev. Dr. Joseph Mottram
St Philip and St James Church will be holding their Christingle service on Saturday 6th December at 4pm. This service is suitable for all ages, and it is an ideal event for families to attend together. It offers an opportunity to bring light, hope and community togetherness as we approach the festive season. An orange, a red ribbon, sweets and a candle are used to help tell the Christian story. The custom of making Christingles originated in the Moravian Church in Germany and was adopted in Britain in the latter part of the twentieth century. Christingle means “Christ’s Light”. A candle in an orange is used to represent the world that God made and Jesus, the Light of the World. It is decorated with a red ribbon, representing the blood of Jesus who died for the salvation of the whole world, and sweets or dried fruit on four cocktail sticks which represent the four seasons of the year and the goodness of the fruit of the earth. Everyone is invited to make their own Christingle in the Church Centre, before moving into the Church where the candles will be lit creating a warm and uplifting glow, offering a sense of peace as we remember that Jesus brings hope to those living in darkness and difficult times. For many the Christingle service is a unique and cherished experience with a family and community focus.Here are some memories and reflections from past Christingle services that have been shared: “Christingle is a reminder that Christ is the Light of the World, and He will provide us with all our needs.” “The darkened church symbolises the sadness and sin in the world. Then the lighting of the Christingles gradually fills the church with a magical glow symbolising the spreading of God’s light and love.” “I remember bringing my sons, who are now in their fifties, to the Christingle Service when they were children – so a long time ago. It provided an opportunity for them to ask questions about the meaning of Christmas. The service evokes feelings of nostalgia and spiritual connections and brings back lovely memories.” "Attending the Christingle service as a primary school child was a deeply meaningful experience. It provided a special opportunity to reflect on the birth of Jesus and to remember that He is the Light of the World. The service fostered a strong sense of community, as we came together in shared faith and unity to celebrate the light and hope that Christ brings.” “I have a special memory of when our children were young, and we were invited as a family to deliver the bible readings which were written on cards. My daughter was only three at the time and couldn’t read, but she held her card and made sure that she could remember the words ‘Jesus said I am the Light of the World’! My parents attended the Christingle Service but were not aware that we were going to do this. They were surprised and very touched when we stood up.” “My daughter and I made the Christingles last year. The sweets were quite hard, and we kept breaking the cocktail sticks! Our hands ended up very sticky with an orange aroma, but it is a fun and social activity which brings a sense of togetherness and engages people of all ages in the festive spirit. This year we will use softer sweets!”
