Hello everyone and welcome to another thought for the week.In a recent piece of helpful feedback we’ve been asked to introduce ourselves as we begin our videos as we may well be talking to folks who’ve no idea who we are!So, my name is Reverend Joe Cooper and I’m a Curate here at Christ Church, Stannington. If you’re not a regular member of the church family, you are most welcome and please do consider joining us in the flesh, once public worship has resumed.Today is Ascension Day when the Church remembers and celebrates the moment when our Lord Jesus Christ ascended and returned to heaven to rule with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit.We might be tempted to ask on this day, why did Jesus have to return to heaven? Jesus had conquered death and sin through His death on the cross and His resurrection; surely this was the moment to usher in the new kingdom, the new heaven and the new earth of which Revelation 21 speaks of. The place when God Himself would dwell with humanity in a restored and renewed earth. And the disciples gathered around Jesus, ask him in Acts 1, “is this it, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” “No, it is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority” Jesus replies. Not yet. So Jesus returns to heaven and the disciples are left stood there looking into heaven.But why? Well here are a few thoughts. In John’s Gospel, chapter 14, verses 1-6 we are told that Jesus will return to heaven so that He can (amongst other things) prepare a place for us. This passage is often used at funeral services. There are many rooms in the Father’s house and there is a room just for you if you want it. But you have to want it, and take it, and claim it for your own. No on else can do it for you. No amount of being a nice, good, decent person in this life will earn you a place here. All of these are of course admirable qualities, but they are not the way to heaven according to Jesus Himself.In this passage Thomas asks that question many of us have asked or may still even be wondering “so how do we get there, what do we do to get a room in the Father’s house? How can we know the way?” “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” Jesus replies, “no one comes to the Father except through me.” But what does this mean? Well in very simple terms you believe that Jesus died for you on the cross, you accept His sacrifice, you claim it for your own and then you live for Jesus to the very end of your mortal days. If you’ve never done that before, why not do it today. All you need to do to start this process is to say a very simple prayer with sincerity. Something along the lines of: ‘Lord Jesus Christ I thank you that you died on the cross for me, I claim your sacrifice for myself, show me how to live a better life, help me to become more like you’. And if you’ve just prayed that simple prayer for the first time, you have just become a Christian, congratulations and welcome to the family. And do get in touch with us so we can help to support you in your new journey of faith.In the Great Commission at the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus told His disciples, His followers to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all that I have commanded you”. The disciples had followed Jesus for the past three years, completing their NVQ in practical discipleship. And they’d done alright. It had been a bit of a rocky start, Peter had a wobble when Jesus was arrested, but most of them had got through it. Judas of course being the exception who did not make it through to graduation. Betraying the teacher and helping to have them murdered was not on the course syllabus!The time had come for the disciples to leave the master and go out into the world to do a bit of practical discipling for themselves. They wouldn’t be left alone, for before too long they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. And then, equipped with the power of the Holy Spirit they would go out into the world and as we know, would help to change it forever.So, Ascension Day is not a day to be downcast, it is a day of great celebration. We celebrate the fact that Christ conquered sin and death and was able to return to heaven to rule with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit as a king. We remind ourselves that Jesus has gone ahead of us to prepare a place just for us in the Father’s house. We recommit to following Jesus or we use this moment as an opportunity to accept Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life for the first time in our lives. And we promise to play our part in helping to make new disciples wherever we find ourselves at this time and to do this for as long as we are physically able.For as the great hymn reminds us:We have a gospel to proclaimGood news for all in all the earth;The gospel of a Saviour’s name:We sing His glory, tell His worth.And on the day when we remember Jesus’ Ascension:Now we rejoice to name Him King:Jesus is Lord of all the earth.This gospel message we proclaim:We sing His glory, tell His worth.
Hello everyone, its good to be with you again for another ‘Thought for the Week’. As the weather has improved and Tim has asked me to consider growth this week, I thought I’d come outside into the churchyard to record this thought. The grass has certainly grown during Lockdown! The trees are once again covered with vibrant green leaves, insects buzz through the air. Natural growth continues seemingly unaffected by our temporary withdrawal from the world. And as we’ve seen in many places, our withdrawal has actually helped to improve local environments and given the wildlife a chance to have a bit of a breather! I particularly enjoyed the badger at the railway station taking advantage of the empty trains as he was off to see his mates! Our second and third Church Values are linked to growth. ‘Knowing our calling to become more like Jesus’ and ‘Knowing his calling to build His Church’. Personal and corporate growth. We are individual members of a larger body, the Church. In previous weeks we’ve considered how we might be growing as individual disciples of Jesus during these challenging times; but this week we are going to think about how we are building His Church and growing together as an interconnected body and family of Christian disciples.You might want to reflect on the question, ‘how are we growing as a Church at this time?’ I know that this is something Tim is quite keen to explore together as we peer into an uncertain future. We don’t know for example when public worship will resume; but we need to keep growing and building His Church here in Stannington nonetheless. If you have any practical suggestions about how we can grow together as a family, please do let us know in the comments below or get in touch with Tim. Your feedback as ever, is always appreciated. As an example, many of you know I’m moving to St Mary’s, Handsworth for my final year of curacy from the first of July. In preparation for this I’ve been added to the church WhatsApp group. All members of the congregation who are able to, have been added to this group and they chat to each other throughout the day. But there are also requests for prayer and practical support too. Very similar to our network groups but at a congregational level. Would something similar here be helpful? Do let us know? It is very easy in these times to feel so incredibly disconnected from our church family. I know I’m not alone in missing public worship on Sundays and throughout the week. But it is important that we endeavour to remain connected with one another and to grow as a family. How has the Church been growing in these times in your opinion? Do you have a story or testimony to share? Please do, I know from speaking to some of you, that you appreciate the shared comments. Perhaps more so than the original content! That’s fine! The purpose of these weekly reflections is to stimulate conversation. Keep doing it! As ever, if you are struggling and need support, or just someone to talk to, do let us know. You are not alone in this.For now, I conclude with those lovely words from the book of Romans 12:5:So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.See you next week!
Hello everyone and welcome to this week’s ‘thought for the week’. I hope you are well and are managing to cope during the strange times we continue to find ourselves in. As ever, if you are struggling in any way and need support with shopping, prescriptions, prayers or just someone to talk to; do let one of us know and we will endeavour to support you in whatever way we can.So, this week, I’d just like to share with you some encouraging conversations I’ve had with a few people as they’ve given me a real lift and I hope that they will do the same for you too.This pandemic has forced most of us to re-evaluate our lives, the things that are truly important to us. I have spoken to a few people recently who have said that the pandemic has acted like a filter which has enabled them to see life differently and given them fresh insights and perspectives. Personally, I do not believe that God is the source of this pandemic, it seems highly likely that this was yet again, humanity’s disregard for God’s creation. But I do believe, like all terrible crises, God is using this crisis as a way to reconnect with some of His people.Allow me to share a few examples:On Monday, a chap at foodbank told me he was really missing the services at Stanwood Methodist Church. He had been on a couple of occasions prior to the lockdown; but being forcibly removed from his new church family had shown him just how much he valued the human contact and the love he had experienced through corporate worship. He cannot wait to return!Later that afternoon whilst delivering a food parcel in the Hall Park/Fairbarn area I was able to have a brief chat with a young mum who wants her son to be baptised. Her friend, who was nearby told me how he wants to bring his children to church so that they can learn about Jesus and grow in their faith. He was inspired by some of his Muslim friends and the way they take their faith incredibly seriously with it being at the heart of their identities and family life. And this man wanted that for his family too. He reminded me of a famous boxer who is a Christian and has achieved remarkable things in his life. “I want my kids to know about Jesus” he told me “anything is possible then”. This man had pretty much quoted Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. Both the young mum and the man have joined our Facebook Page and have promised to get in touch with us and come to church once the building is opened. And if you are watching both of you… we will hold you to that promise! Do not make us go all Liam Neeson! We will find you!Yesterday I spoke to a lady who has said that her social isolation coupled with the national crisis have led to a complete review of her life and after many years absence from the church, she wishes to return once the building is open. She has realised how much she misses the church family and the sacrament of Holy Communion.Isn’t it wonderful to hear that God is continuing to move and connect with people at a time like this?I wonder, what might God be saying to you at this time? And how are you going to respond to His message or His call? If you want to share your thoughts, do use the comments below, if you want to ponder this privately at home, feel free and if you’d value a one to one conversation with any of the clergy, do get in touch.See you next week!
My thought for the week is a follow on from last week’s where I mentioned that during this time of disconnectedness the Church is alive and functioning; and that certainly remains the case this week too. Funerals continue to take place; the foodbank is busier than ever, and we press ahead with our weekly online content. I am sure I’m not the only one who finds it difficult to stay refreshed and hydrated (in a spiritual sense) throughout these long weeks of social isolation. And I wondered if we could share together, through the comments below, what we have been doing as Christians and disciples of Christ to remain connected to the springs of living water. You might have adopted a new practice you have found particularly helpful or continued with an existing practice – what is it? What do you do? How have you been worshipping at home? What have you found particularly helpful during this challenging time? Please share your thoughts with the wider church family. Your own spiritual habits and practices might offer fresh insights for someone who is particularly struggling at the moment. In my own case (and I do recognise as an ordained priest I hold a privileged position) I have been celebrating Holy Communion at home every night at the kitchen table which has become my altar. As a family we watch cheesy 90’s worship videos on YouTube usually in the morning and after tea. The boys do love to get the egg shakers and bells and tambourines out. Having fun together through sung worship is particularly important to us as a family. All of this has helped to sustain me and the Cooper family in general at what could have otherwise been a fairly barren time. What sustains you? Do share with us.I am acutely aware that this video will not reach all members of our church family, so please do make use of our network groups, and contact our less digitally connected members so that they can be part of this conversation.As ever, do contact us if you are struggling in any way, but particularly if you are struggling spiritually as it is so easy to overlook this important part of our identity during these truly unprecedented times. See you soon!
