Minister's Message March 29th 2024

 

May We Live in a way that Draws People to Jesus

Dear Church Family – by the time you read this we will have passed through the incredible events of Holy Week, the love and passion of Jesus shown to us in Palm Sunday, the Last Supper, the Garden, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection.  It is from these events that we emerge and seek to LIVE in and with the people and culture around us today.  As I continue my ongoing journey of reflecting upon the Methodist Way of Life – how we live sits at the very centre.  

We have more power and influence than we may realise and which affects those around us, simply by the way we LIVE our lives. I wonder how God’s great story of salvation through Jesus might shine out of our lives?  It seems a bit question, almost too big – how can you/I be a representative of almighty God?

I guess it’s good to remember that we are all made in God's image and perhaps the best way to let God’s love shine is to live authentically as a whole person; the person who God made us to be. In this way we worship God in our day-to-day lives at work, at home and out and about. 

St Paul says: ‘Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in Christ, as Christ loved us.(Ephesians 5:1-2)

To be honest I still think this is hard. How can I possibly live up to Jesus?! But then I realise that all Jesus is asking me to be is who I am as a person of faith and part of God’s church. In my prayers I try to ask the Holy Spirit to act within and through me without trying to fake being a ‘perfect person’ and I always pray that God will remind me that I am not alone. 

Living as a Christian who follows the Methodist Way of Life, roots us in God and opens us to allow God to shine out of us. That’s not to say that any of us are perfect. But there is something luminously attractive about people who are open to God and which enables us to be more holy and loving each day as the fruits of the Spirit grow in us.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

As we rejoice in Jesus risen and give thanks what this means, so we pray:

Gracious God - in this season of renewal, we pray in thanksgiving for the many blessings You give us. May our words and deeds – how we live - serve as a reminder of the transformative power of Your love. Amen.

God bless you all and Happy Easter Season – Rev Alan

By the time you read this it will be either Good Friday or Easter Day…

We gathered this morning as a circuit staff team for prayers on-line and we spent some time initially in ‘conversation-prayers' of thanksgiving for so many special things going on across the circuit over recent days - from Lye Boys Brigade celebrating Passover to our Shine Church (for families with Children of Special needs) meeting at Brierley Hill with over 90 children and adults present, to Holy Week Children's and Families events at various churches, the wonderful worship at the circuit Palm Praise, the quiet reflection of the Holy Week Quiet Day and the faithful shared companionship of those walking on the two circuit pilgrimages yesterday.  

All this and more and it’s only halfway through Holy Week.

I have a simple prayer - that we all might find / make the time to see and to know how special and important these coming days are to our faith - continuing today as Jesus gathered with his disciples sharing the last supper - making clear what is to come… his body and blood, given for us and for our salvation, that we might all be at-one with God.

May God bless your own journey of faith, sustaining you and calling you forward.

Rev Alan and the Team