DAILY REFLECTION

Thursday 21st November 

Walking Humbly

"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." – Micah 6:8

We are called to walk humbly, recognizing our own failings and constantly seeking God’s guidance for the future. True humility involves taking responsibility and making things right. As a church, we must be willing to admit where we have gone wrong and commit ourselves to a different path, one that places the safety of the vulnerable at the centre of our mission.

This humility includes listening to survivors, learning from past mistakes, and refusing to tolerate anything that compromises the safety and well-being of the vulnerable. Safeguarding requires ongoing self-reflection, a willingness to change, and openness to accountability. As we strive to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly, we align ourselves more fully with God’s will.

Revd Peter Ingerslev

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Wednesday 20th November

Jesus set a high value of protecting the vulnerable

"If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck." – Matthew 18:6

Jesus placed immense importance on the protection of children and the vulnerable, warning about the consequences of leading them to harm. His words are strong because His love for children and the defenceless is strong. Jesus stands as a fierce protector, and we are called to embody His heart.

Safeguarding is essential to following Jesus. Let this truth drive us to root out any systems, practices, or attitudes that causes harm in our mission community. In Jesus' eyes, everyone is of infinite worth, and to harm them is to attack the very heart of God. We need to stand against anything that makes each other unsafe. In the Mini Messy Church and Open the Story in Forest Church including parents has been important to protect the children. With the elderly there also needs a vigilance of safeguarding as they can be vulnerable too. The training we are asked to undertake in the church helps us to be aware how to keep each other safe. But above it all we remember Jesus’ words love your neighbour as you want to be treated.

Prayer: Lord help us to bring the love of God to everyone we meet this week and to make them safe in that love. Amen

Revd Peter Ingerslev

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Tuesday 19th November

"Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! … You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured." – Ezekiel 34:2-4

The prophet Ezekiel rebuked Israel’s leaders for neglecting those under their care. They acted in self-interest, failing to protect the flock. God's message is clear: leaders who neglect their duty to care for and protect the vulnerable are failing not only the people but also God Himself.

In our churches, we cannot ignore or downplay, cover up harm by abuse, whether physical or emotional. When we fail to give love that God has given us for all people, we betray the mission Jesus has given us. Safeguarding is the culture of love that makes all of us safe from abuse, judgement, neglect or resentment in our community and is the essential part of the message Jesus. We are all injured when we hear harsh words spoken in our midst. We are all blessed when we see selfless love poured out to those amongst us especially to those who need it most.

This is the message of Christmas: Glory to God in the highest. And on earth: peace, goodwill toward men!"

Revd Peter Ingerslev

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Monday 18th November

This coming weekend it will be Safeguarding Sunday, a day when we acknowledge our sacred responsibility to protect and care for the vulnerable. But this year, we also face hard truths about how the church has fallen short in this calling, including a recent resignation at the highest levels over failures to report and address abuse.

We must begin with repentance—a genuine acknowledgment that people have been deeply harmed because leaders and communities sometimes failed to act with integrity and courage. Victims have carried pain, isolation, and trauma that could have been prevented and fear exposure. Our thought and prayers today must be for the survivors.

It reminds me of the women caught in adultery and church leaders using her to test Jesus. John 7:53–8:11 We don’t even know if she was a victim of rape or the circumstances of the situation but the man was not apprehended. The heart of Jesus was love and restoration.

“Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.

When you are the victim and are then held as the guilty one to be shamed and punished, it is double the trauma with no help or support to recover the trauma.

Please pray that the abused to speak out and be healed with Christ's love and ours.

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Friday 15th November

'Thirty-one eight' is a charity that has partnered the Church of England to promote both safeguarding practice and to cultivate a safeguarding culture. Here are two prayers that they have distributed as we all reflect upon becoming safer places as church.

Dear God,

We pray for all those who have suffered hurt and harm within the family of the Church,

whether they are known to us or not, we know that you know them by name.

For those who feel trapped, grant them a way of escape,

For those in pain, bring comfort and healing,

For those who seek justice, may they have courage and strength.

As Church we are one body and if one part suffers, every part suffers with it.

Give to all who suffer people who will listen, support, and walk with them we pray,

Amen

Jesus, light of the world, who came as a healer, full of love and compassion, may we be full of compassion, and speak up for those who have no voice.

May our churches be places of safety, where we stand up for the vulnerable. Places of justice, kindness and humility.

Light of the world, drive out the darkness. May we bring light and life to others. May it be so.

Amen

Revd Louise Grace

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Thursday 14th November

I promised Tuesday's intended reflection to be posted today, but as this has been an unprecedented week in the history of the Church of England, the events of the week need further space. I will not define this week as the one of the resignation of Justin Welby, although that was a consequence of it. Rather it should be seen as a moment in time when the suppression of reports of abuse and the toleration of such suppression reached an end, the voices of victims and survivors were heard and validated, and the Church was offered a kairos, a 'critical moment', of turning towards righteousness, when we are invited to deeply repent and so truly commit to being an institution that is safe and puts the most vulnerable into the centre of all our decision making and practice. If you need to talk through anything that has arisen because of the events of this week, and the reverberations beyond, please do contact me, Revd Louise Grace 07779585908 or [email protected] You can also access support at https://safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk/

Revd Louise Grace

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Wednesday 13th November

Courage changes things

Saints –

We are in a time of remembering – memories of those who have died. Especially those who have died in the conflicts which are seeming to tear our world apart in the Middle East, Lebanon, the West Bank, Gaza – especially the children and women, and then there is Ukraine, Yemen and Sudan so many places where there is violence, death, and destruction. 

 Why is there so much chaos, so much killing, so much poverty, so much hunger?  Instead of wanting to dominate, to be all powerful, to be self-seeking, not only as individuals but as countries and communities, what should our values for living be? 

 Values such as integrity, empathy, courage, perseverance, compassion, gratitude, kindness, responsibility, listening, humility, and curiosity, surely these would be better for humanity. As we think of, and remember the saints, and those who have died in many wars, from the list I would pick ‘courage.’ 

Courage changes things and courage changes us. 

 We need courage to speak out against wrong, against things that are wrong for individuals and for community. The courage to ask questions. The courage to listen. The courage to be honest, to be truthful. The courage to reach for one another, to embrace. The courage to be loved and to love. There are more. It is not easy to be courageous and for the Saints it often led them to death. What are your values for living and the values of those close to you? What are the values for living we would like the leaders of the nations to have? Courage can and does change things, hopefully for the good of all. Be courageous.

On Saturday 16th November come and sing your favourite hymn, joining with others for coffee, cake and to make a Donation to the Disaster Emergency Committee for the work of Charities in the Middle East. In St Margaret’s Church.

Revd Tony Raven

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