You can watch this thought for the week on our YouTube channel.1 Corinthians 11:23-26John 13:1-17 31b-351 Corinthians 11:23-26 Good News Translation (GNT)23 For I received from the Lord the teaching that I passed on to you: that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took a piece of bread, 24 gave thanks to God, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in memory of me.” 25 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup and said, “This cup is God's new covenant, sealed with my blood. Whenever you drink it, do so in memory of me.”26 This means that every time you eat this bread and drink from this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to N. All Glory to you, O Lord. John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Good News Translation (GNT)Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet13 It was now the day before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. He had always loved those in the world who were his own, and he loved them to the very end.2 Jesus and his disciples were at supper. The Devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, the thought of betraying Jesus.[a] 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him complete power; he knew that he had come from God and was going to God. 4 So he rose from the table, took off his outer garment, and tied a towel around his waist. 5 Then he poured some water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Are you going to wash my feet, Lord?”7 Jesus answered him, “You do not understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later.”8 Peter declared, “Never at any time will you wash my feet!”“If I do not wash your feet,” Jesus answered, “you will no longer be my disciple.”9 Simon Peter answered, “Lord, do not wash only my feet, then! Wash my hands and head, too!”10 Jesus said, “Those who have taken a bath are completely clean and do not have to wash themselves, except for their feet.[b] All of you are clean—all except one.” (11 Jesus already knew who was going to betray him; that is why he said, “All of you, except one, are clean.”)12 After Jesus had washed their feet, he put his outer garment back on and returned to his place at the table. “Do you understand what I have just done to you?” he asked. 13 “You call me Teacher and Lord, and it is right that you do so, because that is what I am. 14 I, your Lord and Teacher, have just washed your feet. You, then, should wash one another's feet. 15 I have set an example for you, so that you will do just what I have done for you. 16 I am telling you the truth: no slaves are greater than their master, and no messengers are greater than the one who sent them. 17 Now that you know this truth, how happy you will be if you put it into practice!The New Commandment31b Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man's glory is revealed; now God's glory is revealed through him. 32 And if God's glory is revealed through him, then God will reveal the glory of the Son of Man in himself, and he will do so at once. 33 My children, I shall not be with you very much longer. You will look for me; but I tell you now what I told the Jewish authorities, ‘You cannot go where I am going.’ 34 And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples.”Footnotes:John 13:2 The Devil … betraying Jesus; or The Devil had already decided that Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, would betray Jesus.John 13:10 Some manuscripts do not have except for their feet.This is the Gospel of the Lord. All Praise to you, O Christ. I saw a someone on social media recently complaining about the quantity of times that the word unprecedented had been used. However, at the risk of upsetting them, it is an appropriate term for the changes we are going through. In the day to day struggle that is living, even taking stock of our lives and looking for opportunities for change is difficult, so whenever something drastic turns our world upside down it helps to take a step back and think about what the drastic change has revealed. Change gives us two options, one is to fear the change and recoil from it, the other is to engage with it, adapt and learn from it.We are making enormous changes to our lifestyles, our incomes, our work patterns. Things that would have been considered outrageous, impractical and uneconomical six months ago are now viewed as a necessity for survival. We sometimes have to hunt for basic things such as bread, pasta or toilet roll.Change is afoot, change on a scale that hasn’t been seen for nearly a lifetime. We are recognising some important truths about society, surprising truths about who has a critical role and how they have been under-valued. In Corinthians Paul reminds us of the critical change that took place in the upper room on the night before Jesus died. A seismic shift was occurring, that would eventually tear the disciples, Jews born and bred, away from the control and stipulations of their lifelong religious rites under the auspices of Judaism. Bringing his core disciples together, Jesus shared with them a special meal, a last supper, that was to become the foundational rite of the Christian church. Sharing together in the body and blood of Jesus has become a core element of the function of the church. For thousands of years this rite has been protected and guarded by the church as communion. Now we are faced with the very real prospect of doing without communion for a significant period of time.We are no longer able to meet together, no longer able to break bread together and drink from the one cup, but we should not fear this change, we should use it as an opportunity to explore the fundamentals of our faith. To find new ways in which we can maintain a physical demonstration of our unity. What might a social distancing version of breaking bread together look like?Many people in the church are now a part of networks that meet regularly, but remotely. If you are not in one of these networks and would like to be, then please make contact with someone from the church so you can be included. Question One: what do we miss most from meeting as a church and how can we adapt to get what we miss from our new surroundings?Our current situation finds some parallels with the last supper, something that could be argued to be the starting point of the Christian faith being set loose from its moorings to Judaism. From the last supper, events were set in motion that would eventually lead to the newly named Christians being expelled from the temple and the synagogues which they had called home. They had to rethink what Christianity meant in the absence of the buildings, structures and institutions of their religious childhood, and eventually lose the protected status of their faith within the Roman empire. They had to step into a new world of disorder and chaos, where they had to find new ways to meet, in homes and secret places. At the same time they had to discover the crucial elements of their faith outside of the safe umbrella of Judaism. Tradition is something that is easily added to, but not so easily let go of. Each generation might add minor traditions to religious observance, but once they have been adopted, there is no easy mechanism for letting go of traditions. We seem to find it hard to distinguish between the core elements of our faith and the particular way in which we have got used to practising it.In that sense, being prevented from meeting in the church building is an opportunity to re-evaluate what is vital to our Christian faith, and what is accumulated tradition that may have become unnecessary. This is not to say that we cannot learn from tradition, just that we also need to be discerning over what is core and what is peripheral.The practise of communion grew out of the last supper, but until the church became more organised and structured, and liturgy was formalised, it was in essence a shared meal. While today a communion service is highly regulated and must be led by authorised people, the church of England also allows for an agape meal, which has a much looser remit. It is not recognised as sacramental, it does not require bread and wine to be blessed by a priest, in fact bread and wine are not even needed, any food or drink can be used as it focuses more on the sharing element of the meal. While sharing a mealtime together is difficult to do remotely, it is not impossible. However as means of sharing our faith in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, and of the command to love one another, it can be very effective. It is particularly suitable for use within households at this time as a reminder of our faith and of Jesus last supper. Question Two: How do we define our ‘Christian’ identity while confined to our homes? How can we best express our Christianity in a time of social restriction? The final point I would like to leave you with is the last part of the John reading. After the meal Jesus then does two things to bind the disciples together as a group, firstly washing their feet and second by issuing the commandment to love one another. First washing their feet is a display of humility, not only for the person washing the feet, but also I think, especially in our era, an act of humility in allowing someone else to wash your feet, especially if it is someone you respect and look up to. I am sure many people today would feel uncomfortable about having someone else touch their feet, let alone wash them, but Jesus made it clear that the disciples needed to be open to this form of shared humility, or perhaps you could say the disciples had undergone a baptism into humility. Fresh from this ‘baptism of humility’ Jesus secondly binds the disciples together with a commandment. Question Three: How can we be baptised into humility and the commandment to love one another while respecting isolation? How does being humble and loving show itself in these times? Discussion starters:Question One: what do we miss most from meeting as a church and how can we adapt to get what we miss from our new surroundings?Question Two: How do we define our ‘Christian’ identity while confined to our homes? How can we best express our Christianity in a time of social restriction? Question Three: How can we be baptised into humility and the commandment to love one another while respecting isolation? How does being humble and loving show itself in these times? Jon Foster, 09/04/2020
<span style="font-size: 1rem;">Last week Joe left us with the challenge to feed the vulnerable in this parish. Thank you to all of you who have found ways of supporting our food bank. Meeting the basic needs of vulnerable people in our parish is crucial. Thank you also to those of you who have been phoning and keeping social contact with friends, relatives and neighbours. Another crucial way of meeting people’s needs and being a blessing to those around us. But there comes a time when we realise, we must find ways to sustain ourselves if we are to be able to pass that blessing onto others. We cannot donate food to the food bank unless we go to the shops and buy food for ourselves. In the same way we need to ensure our spiritual connections with God remains intact if we are to have the inner strength to keep going through the weeks ahead.</span> So how do we do this when the world appears to be in crisis, our daily lives have been turned upside down, our routines have been destroyed. Many of us have had our jobs and incomes threatened. For some there is inactivity, for others there is the struggle of working from home. Where do we turn for security, where do we look for strength? I am fortunate to be able to glance up from my desk and look at the hills that surround Stannington. Last Sunday in our online service we sang about the awesomeness of the natural world around us and the grandeur of the mountains. It is still available on our YouTube channel, you can find it under online services on the church website or though the YouTube button. We may be limited in our opportunities to get out into the countryside at the moment. Staying close to home is important. But we can see the hills across which the old pack horse routes to Manchester used to run. They often remind me that in times gone by walking in the hills wasn’t something done for relaxation and pleasure. It was risky. The paths were dangerous and lonely. Psalm 121 has long been one of my favourite psalms but I have to remember when the psalmist says“I lift my eyes to the hills” it isn’t in wonder and anticipation of an exciting day out. It was fear, of danger, of losing your way in the dark, of cold nights under the stars, of cliff edges, bandits, robbery, loss of goods therefore income or even loss of life. That’s why the following line is a heartfelt plea “from where will my help come?”. There facing unknown danger, the psalmist looks for help, and turns to God. The following verses give the reassurances. “My help comes from the LORD who made heaven and earth”. There is that deep inner connection that give the psalmist the courage to go on. So how do we get that for ourselves. It is simply through prayer and reading. Just as we need to connect with the shops for our food, we also need to connect to God for our spiritual food. It doesn’t matter how you feel God wants to hear from you. So if you are angry with the present situation, tell God. If you are afraid, tell him. If you doubt his very existence tell him. You will be in good company. If you read though the psalms you will find brutal honesty as people pour out their hearts in despair. If you are old enough you might remember psalm 137 from Bony M’s By the rivers of Babylon. It tells of a broken hearted people who can no longer worship in the buildings they used to love. Or have a look at psalm 77 the writer cannot sleep for worry, they thinks God has taken his love away. They are in despair. Even Jesus, in desperation, struggling for breath on the cross asks God “why have you forsaken me?’. It is all right to express all these emotions to God, including anger, because within them lies our grief of what has been lost. And when we read these psalms of lament, they help us express that grief, and we will find that God is with us, grieving alongside for all the pain and suffering and loss. We are not forgotten. If you turn to many of these psalms you will find that after the writer has written of their hurt they begin to remember. They look back and remind themselves of all that God has done for them. This is where our Bible reading is important. We need to read daily how God has worked in the past knowing that God is still at work the same way now. In Hebrews 13 v 8 we read a very well-known words, “Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever”. Looking back on the ways in which God has worked in the past helps us build our faith that God is still with us and for us. So in this time of disruption we have an opportunity to establish some new patterns of behaviour. Ones which will sustain us. Along with daily exercise and connecting with others we also need to connect with God on a daily basis. ON the website under Prayer there are some suggestions of apps and downloads that can help us establish a daily pattern. If you know of any others do let us know and we can add those on too. Another way is by using an ancient method of reading the Bible. There are 4 steps. Reading the passage to yourself, I find reading out loud helps me to concentrate. Secondly rereading and seeing what stands out to you in the passage. It may be a single word or a phrase and then taking time to think or meditate about this. The third stage prayer, allows that mediation to turn into a conversation with Jesus allowing his Spirit to speak to you. And then finally take time to rest, not forcing your mind to think intellectually but rest in the Word.So let’s listen to a psalm listen carefully and see what is God saying to you today. Psalm 23 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;he leads me beside still waters;[a]3 he restores my soul.[b]He leads me in right paths[c] for his name’s sake.4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[d] I fear no evil;for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me.5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.6 Surely[e] goodness and mercy[f] shall follow me all the days of my life,and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.[g] Rev. Alison Cook, 01/04/2020
<span style="font-size: 1rem;">I had hoped to take advantage of Facebook and livestream this as a video. Unfortunately finding a quiet, suitable spot in a very busy household has proved to be most challenging!</span>The current crisis facing our nation seems to change and worsen each day. And yet our church values remain the same:Knowing we are God’s belovedKnowing our calling to become more like JesusKnowing our calling to build His churchKnowing our calling to be a blessing in God’s worldOur values remain the same, but the way we enact them, the way we live them out on a day to day basis, of course has had to change.In recent months we have sought to become more like Jesus and to be a blessing in His world (in our own small corner here in Stannington); by working alongside our brothers and sisters at Stanwood Methodist Church and from across the wider community through the work of the Stannington Foodbank.The current (necessary) restrictions on movement have had a significant impact on the work of the foodbank at a time when demand has spiked and we are looking to deliver food/welfare parcels to those who are over 70 or in one of the vulnerable health categories. Many people have stepped forward from across the community in the past fortnight to offer their services as volunteers. Others have donated food/toiletries/cash. At a time of national crisis, it has been most heart-warming to observe our local community rallying together to support the most vulnerable members of our society.Many people have asked me how they can best support the work of the foodbank at this critical time.In order to maintain strict social distancing measures at the foodbank, we don’t (currently) need any more volunteers at the Monday sessions at Stanwood. There simply isn’t enough space in the vestry/foyer area for any more than 3 volunteers to work safely and effectively. We may in the near future need assistance with delivering food/welfare parcels across Stannington (and surrounding areas), but we are not there yet.You can get involved in the following ways:Please pray for Jane Wall and Joe Cooper – as “employees” of the Church we are designated ‘key-workers’. As co-managers of the foodbank (an essential service) we are permitted to leave our homes to undertake key foodbank duties. Please pray that our health holds. Please also pray for the continued provision of food donations in the weeks and months ahead. We need donations of food now more than ever. All of us are in contact with a wider network of people: family, friends, work colleagues etc. Please consider reaching out to your contacts through Facebook, Twitter, email… and ask your network of contacts if they might be able to help support the work of the foodbank at this time. A single tin of beans will provide a meal. The foodbank has its own Facebook Page ‘Stannington Foodbank’ with a regularly updated list of items we are running low on. At this time, you can’t take the food to a designated drop-off point, but you can contact me (Joe 07340280460 or revjoecooper@gmail.com) and I will arrange for the donation to be collected directly from you/the donor – provided the donor doesn’t live in New Zealand of course! Cash donations can also be made but are less preferable to physical donations of food/toiletries. The strict rationing limits imposed by the supermarkets are not being waived for foodbanks at this time, which results in several trips to different supermarkets or multiple visits over several days. All of this increases the chances of being exposed to Coronavirus at a time when we are attempting to restrict our movement. We hope to have a ‘Just-Giving’ page (or equivalent) in place soon, so keep an eye on the foodbank Facebook Page. Let us know if you, a neighbour, a family member etc, is in need of a food/welfare parcel. This is for anyone who is socially isolating and in need of a few essentials to keep them going. We will deliver a parcel directly to the door. A donation for the food parcel would be accepted but of course is not mandatory. One of my favourite Bible readings is the exchange between Jesus and Peter at the end of John’s Gospel (John 21:15-17):When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Now re-read the passage but replace Peter’s name with your own: When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Joe, “Joe, son of Ian, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Joe, son of Ian, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Joe, son of Ian, do you love me?” Joe was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep”.Let us do all within our power to heed the words of Jesus and feed the sheep of His parish here in Stannington at this critical time.Revd Joe Cooper – 25.03.20
