Easter, 20 April

He is risen, Alleluia!

He is risen indeed, alleluia, alleluia!

The effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust for ever. Isaiah 32:17

‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live! John 11:25

If anyone is devout and a lover of God, let them enjoy this beautiful and radiant festival.

If anyone is a grateful servant, let them, rejoicing, enter into the joy of his Lord.

If anyone has wearied themselves in fasting, let them now receive recompense.

If anyone has labored from the first hour, let them today receive the just reward.

If anyone has come at the third hour, with thanksgiving let them feast.

If anyone has arrived at the sixth hour, let them have no misgivings; for they shall suffer no loss.

If anyone has delayed until the ninth hour, let them draw near without hesitation.

If anyone has arrived even at the eleventh hour, let them not fear on account of tardiness.

For the Master is gracious and receives the last even as the first; He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, just as to him who has labored from the first.

He has mercy upon the last and cares for the first; to the one He gives, and to the other He is gracious.

He both honors the work and praises the intention.

Enter all of you, therefore, into the joy of our Lord, and, whether first or last, receive your reward.

O rich and poor, one with another, dance for joy!

O you ascetics and you negligent, celebrate the day!

You that have fasted and you that have disregarded the fast, rejoice today!

The table is rich-laden: feast royally, all of you!

The calf is fatted: let no one go forth hungry!

Let all partake of the feast of faith. Let all receive the riches of goodness.

Let no one lament their poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed.

Let no one mourn their transgressions, for pardon has dawned from the grave.

Let no one fear death, for the Saviour's death has set us free.

He that was taken by death has annihilated it!

He descended into Hades and took Hades captive!

He embittered it when it tasted His flesh! And anticipating this, Isaiah exclaimed: "Hades was embittered when it encountered Thee in the lower regions".

It was embittered, for it was abolished!

It was embittered, for it was mocked!

It was embittered, for it was purged!

It was embittered, for it was despoiled!

It was embittered, for it was bound in chains!

It took a body and came upon God!

It took earth and encountered Ηeaven!

It took what it saw, but crumbled before what it had not seen!

O death, where is thy sting?

O Hades, where is thy victory?

Christ is risen, and you are overthrown!

Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!

Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!

Christ is risen, and life reigns!

Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in a tomb!

For Christ, being raised from the dead, has become the first-fruits of them that have slept.

To Him be glory and might unto the ages of ages. Amen.

St John Chrysostom 

Holy Saturday, 19 April

Proclaim further: Thus says the Lord of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity; the Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem. Zechariah 1:17

So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.The Prophecy about to be fulfilled and a promise of a great joy the coming of God’s kingdom. 
John 16:22

This is a message of warning then of hope the feeling of sorrow – then a great joy.

The death of Jesus must be included in his going away. Naturally his disciples would be devastated at not seeing him again. Nevertheless, Christ’s work to save was complete and perfect.

It brings us the joys of salvation and reconciliation with God and an ultimate joy that can never be taken away. This is the gift to everyone in faith. The sorrow could not be avoided it was necessary for this great joy. By leaving at his death then again at his ascension our eternal salvation depended on it.

It is the greatest joy to know that the presence of Jesus is always with us throughout our lives.

Father, help me to overcome my fears about your absence. Grant that I may know that you are with me always, no matter how I feel.

Steve Cheshire

St Clement’s 

Good Friday, 18 April

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you. Psalm 86:5

Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’ Having said this, he breathed his last. Luke 23:46

It is finished. We are at the end of a long journey. We began this journey on Ash Wednesday forty-five days ago. Jesus is at the end of his journey. Despite his pain Jesus is still remembering God’s steadfast love - the love which listens even in our darkest hour.

There is very little to offer in this time of grief than listening. Knowing that someone is there, someone who cares to listen - even if we don’t have anything to say - can give hope in this place.

We can know that God cares. That God holds us and is listening even though we might not realise it.

Gracious and loving God, let me know that in times of joy and sorrow you are at my side, listening. Grant me to know you as the gentle listener, who will hold me in my grief. Amen

James Grant

St Werburgh’s & St Clement’s

Maundy Thursday, April 17

The poor and the helpless have fled to you and have been safe in times of trouble. You give them shelter from storms and shade from the burning heat. Cruel enemies attack like a winter storm

Isaiah 25:4

I have told you this so that you will have peace by being united to me. The world will make you suffer. But be brave! I have defeated the world!”  John 16:33

Jesus once famously said that the poor will always be with us; the Psalmist shows how the poor and the helpless flee to God for protection.  Pope Francis has made the poor a central concern of his ministry as pope – he talks about a Church of and for the poor.  This is a challenging concept for many and good news for many more! 

I was recently challenged by a good friend about how we speak about the poor as if they are not part of us when, the reality is, as Jesus said, the poor are always with us.  In each of our congregations there are poor people – we may not know that folk are poor, struggling on ever decreasing benefits, subjected to the Bedroom Tax, or living on poverty level wages.  We may not realise that some of the folk in our congregations are asylum seekers forbidden to work and, if they are lucky, given a meagre benefit way below what an unemployed person can claim.  Whether we’re aware or not are churches are, increasingly, made up of the poor as well as those who are better off. 

Nationally the churches have been very good at speaking out about how the poor and the migrant are treated – yet the press and politicians then criticise the Church for speaking out.  Yet we should not be upset if we’re criticised by press and politics – after all we know more about the reality of our communities than many of those who criticise us.  The Church is one of the few places where poor people and the not so poor can mix, can share their experiences and work out what the Good News is for us in our own contexts.

God of the poor,

Help us to be attentive to what you are doing in our midst,

Help us to be aware of the Church you are building,

Of the people you draw to yourself,

Help us to learn from each other

And to build a Church which truly reflects

Our community – in our riches, in our poverty,

In our sufferings, and in our joy.

Amen.

Andy Braunston

The Metropolitan Church

Holy Wednesday, 16 April

Exodus 13:21  The LORD went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day, to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night.

John 8:12: Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

As a child I used to love attending the Good Friday liturgy held in my local, Catholic, Church.  The climax of this liturgy, for me, was the reading of an ancient poem called the “Reproaches” where the poet, in the voice of God, contrasts how God has treated His people and how we, in return, have treated God.  One of the laments remarks that God led His people dry shod through the sea when they escaped Egypt but now we have led him to Pilate’s court.  As we journey through Holy Week we reflect on how Jesus, the Light of the World, was plunged into darkness.  We reflect on his despair on the cross when he cried out as he felt God had turned his back on him, and we reflect on the times in our lives when we feel desolate and are tempted to despair.  We know that Jesus’ journey does not end on Good Friday – neither does ours. 

Lord Jesus, help us when we are tempted to despair.

Help us to hold on to your love for us,

Lift our spirits, and help us live in the light of your love.

Amen.

Lee Battle,

Wilbraham St Ninian’s

Holy Tuesday, 15 April

These all look to you / to give them their food in due season;

when you give to them, they gather it up; /when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. Psalm 104:27-28

There they continued proclaiming the good news. Acts 14:7

The place where I work is in the middle of nowhere, in the countryside. There is a lot of wildlife running around the place, ducks, squirrels, pheasants and even the odd mink has been sighted. We often see them scurrying around searching for food and look at the animals, but we forget the significance of what they are actually doing, looking for food and that they are finding it. God has ordered the world so that they would have food to find, their task is to find it.

Our God, who provides for the lowliest of creatures in the world, so too provides for us with all the complexity of our lives and our needs.

In our lives we can often go through bad periods, times of hardship and stress, and can lose sight of God’s role in the ordering of the world and our lives. It can be instinctive to focus on our immediate challenges and forget the spiritual aspect of our situations, we can abandon God like a viewer walking out of a cinema when they are bored with the first 10 minutes of a film, we focus on our own needs and forget that God has promised to fulfil our needs and answer our prayers.

When those we know are going through hard times, we have to be ready to share our faith simply, to reassure that God will find solutions to our problems and that he understands our needs and situations.

Loving God, as we are reminded of the beauty of the world, the glory of nature and the wonder of our landscapes, help us to remember that we too are a part of this world

You make us as wonderfully complex and beautiful people in your image and you are at the centre of our lives, even when we do not recognise it.

Help us to observe your hand at work in the world, and to savour and celebrate your love for us not only during the special times when we are especially aware of your presence but during the most ordinary of days as well.

When we see folk around us being challenged, help us to find the words of comfort to share with those who need to hear of your love.

Dan Joseph

Metropolitan Church

Holy Monday, 14 April

For the Lord your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God. 

Deuteronomy 4:24

Then he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there; and he said, ‘It is written, “My house shall be a house of prayer”; but you have made it a den of robbers.’

 Luke 19:45-46

Recently I spent three months on sabbatical visiting the Presbyterian Church of Taiwan.

On one occasion I was enjoying traditional street food at an indoor market with one of my friends from Taiwan, a pastor in the Presbyterian Church. Before we ate, as was usual, he paused to say grace for us. However I noticed that he spoke much more quietly and much more briefly than he did at home. After the short prayer I asked him about the change in style and he simply said that this was a public market place, suggesting that loud obtrusive prayers in a public place may not be appropriate.

I couldn't resist teasing him with a parody of Jesus words in the temple, commenting, 'it is said this is a market place, but you have made it a house of prayer'!

Teasing aside, my reflection on this passage and my recent Taiwanese experience asks some interesting questions. Far from this passage simply being used to deter church people from housing the Christmas Fair in the sanctuary space, it has become a reminder to not shy away from bringing our faith into the public sphere. 

Do we say grace at home, but not in a restaurant? 

Do we ever read the Bible in public? 

Have you even been as angry as Jesus in the temple and said/done something in public about it? 

There are perhaps several good reasons why the answer to these and similar questions is no, but if the real reason is simply embarrassment, maybe we all need to think again about how we can be people of faith in public and not just in private. 

Mike Walsh

The United Reformed Church

Palm Sunday, 13 April

Do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, / for my hope is in your ordinances. Psalm 119:43

The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ Matthew 21:9

Those of you reading this who have ever attended a Palm Sunday service will have I’m sure on several occasions heard a sermon (or preached yourself) about the fickleness of the crowd who shout 'Hosanna' on Sunday and 'Crucify' by Friday. It's a powerful message to remind ourselves that sometimes we shy away from the demands of our faith or that at times our commitment is stronger than at other times. That message is certainly a helpful one, yet a closer reading of the gospels suggests that in this familiar story there are in fact two different crowds. The crowd that went ahead of Jesus shouting hosanna, are a band of Jesus own country followers from outside Jerusalem, whilst those shouting crucify a few days later are the urban elite of Jerusalem. Or to put is another way, those who shout ‘Hosanna’ have everything to gain from Jesus message, whilst those who condemn believe they have everything to loose.

Today the followers of Jesus come from all kinds of backgrounds, cultures and economic situations, yet do we all hear the message of Jesus in the same way, or do those with less resources still hear a different message from those with more?

It is certainly true that in recent years that the theology that has emerged from developing nations has been starkly different from the traditional teachings of the church in the developed world. And I suspect if we in our own communities were to enquire how the people on the margins of our society viewed the teachings of Jesus, that too might be quite different from some of our presuppositions.

So as we continue our lentern journey, let us be mindful that what our readings and reflections say to us may be startlingly different from what they would say to our neighbours.

Mike Walsh

The United Reformed Church

Saturday, 12 April

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath.  Do not fret—it leads only to evil. Psalm 37:8

Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. Ephesians 4:26

Because English is such a rich language, it can sometimes be difficult to gauge when or whether we are angry to the extent that it challenges our faith.

Perhaps the issues which the scripture texts raise are less to do with the degree of our anger but more to do with our justification for responding as we do.  Our Hebrew and Christian scriptures have examples of what is sometimes called ‘righteous anger’ - occasions when assertive and committed responses to an issue raise within us an emotional and spiritual reaction as well as a rational one.  Do we accept that sometimes we are called, as individuals or as communities, to fulfil the role of prophet by expressing God’s anger at actions and decisions which go against our deepest Christian values?

One of the popular hymns written by John Bell and Graham Maule of the Iona Community starts with the line: “Inspired by love and anger, disturbed by grief and pain…”  It is a deeply challenging hymn which challenges us to be angry without sinning.  We are not called to be furious, vengeful, vindictive or destructive: but we are called to respond to poverty, oppression and injustice in a way which is inspired by both love and anger.

To my mind, righteous anger came to the fore quite recently when a number of major churches openly told the government that some of their policies were driving vulnerable people into destitution, despite the government’s contentions to the contrary.  A Christian voice was heard among the political and economic manoeuvrings of secular power, and the voice was angry because of the love that was felt for those who were being victimised.

Philip Jones

Metropolitan Church

Friday, 11 April

‘As the Lord lives, whatever my God says, that I will speak.’

 2 Chronicles 18:13

‘I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge; and my judgement is just, because I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me. John 5:30

Where does your compass lead you? Compasses will show you the way. They point to the magnetic North Pole which at the moment lies somewhere over Greenland. All our GPS gadgetry has made this technology obsolete, nevertheless we never know if and when this complicated technology might fail.

Jesus showed us that it is humanly possible to align oneself to God as a compass needle aligns itself to the Earth’s magnetic field. Although Jesus took on human nature he was able to understand God’s word. The Word that lets us understand and experience God’s all embracing care. Jesus aligned himself fully to that Word. Like a compass needle pointing north Jesus points to God. He loved God with his whole heart, and he loved his neighbour as himself. Jesus lived the way God always intended us to live.

Today, we live broken lives. We often hurt other people even when we intend to do good. And there are many times when in pursuit of our own goals our spiritual compass needle is knocked off its intended direction. In Christ we have an example of how to live according to God’s will. But we have more than that. In Christ we have hope that despite all our failings God will restore our compass, restore our relationship with God.

Loving God, give us insight and wisdom to recognise your will, and may our lives always point to the one by whom all our lives are restored to the way you have intended. Amen

James Grant

St Clement’s & St Werburgh’s

Thursday, 10 April

He is mindful of his covenant forever, of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations. Psalm 105:8

But the word of the Lord endures forever.  That word is the good news that was announced to you. 1 Peter 1:25

Christians often seem a bit muddled by what we mean when we talk about the “Word of God”.  Since the growth of Evangelicalism in the 18th Century it’s been equated with the Bible.  The Bible, to be sure, contains the Word of God it was written by fallible humans like you and me.  God’s Word, is contained in the Bible and our task as Christians is to discern which is God’s Word and which is the cultural assumptions and words of humans.  It can be difficult and it’s why we often disagree about what the Bible teaches.  Those passages about women being subservient to men were once seen as being the Word of God but are now more generally seen as the cultural assumptions of the male writers.  The debates about divorce and, much earlier, about the lending of money with interest arose out of a similar process of discernment.  Today’s debates in the Church often centre on what the Bible is thought to teach.  We need the courage to discern and see the Word of God shining out from the words of humans. 

Lord, help us to understand Your Will,

Help me to read the Bible and be led by your Spirit as we interpret it,

That your love and grace will shine out from your Church.

Amen. 

Andy Braunston

Metropolitan Church

Wednesday, 9 April

The Lord is long-suffering and of great might, but he will not let the guilty escape punishment.His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the fine dust beneath his feet. Nahum 1:3

Or do you despise his wealth of kindness and tolerance and patience, failing to see that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? Romans 2:4

How quick we are to judge, to condemn and seek retribution. Yet the example God sets for us is to show kindness, tolerance and patience. Rather than be quick to punish he just wants us to improve, to see the error of our ways and repent – so why should we be any different? As I write this, the storms have subsided but there are still plenty of clouds in the sky and parts of the country are still covered by floods so these verses carry a contemporary feel. There are those who have tried to claim that the recent storms are a judgement from God but surely the people making that claim are making exactly the sort of judgement that is criticised in Romans.  

I actually get a considerable sense of relief and reassurance from thinking about this. I would hate to think that every mistake I make will instantly lead to punishment. It’s often said “we learn from our mistakes” but we can’t learn if we aren’t allowed to make mistakes. A practical application of this is the introduction of what is called “restorative justice” which involves making offenders aware of the consequences of their actions from their victims’ perspective. This can lead to offenders becoming genuinely sorry for their actions and much lower re-offending rates. So, as God seems to intend, wrongdoing has consequences but this should lead to repentance.

Dear Lord, we are all imperfect and make mistakes. Thank you for your kindness, tolerance and patience as you lead us back to the true path. Amen

Chris Burton

Wilbraham St Ninian’s  

Tuesday, 8 April

Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, / all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, / all you who mourn over her. Isaiah 66:10

I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you. Philippians 1:3-4

Both these short readings are about rejoicing  -  the restoration of Jerusalem post exile and a positive experience of a Christian community in Phillippi (in stark contrast to some of Paul’s other experiences).

Paul’s writing to a church community who collectively are the cause of his joy – which begs the question as to what sort of letter he would write to us as a church community or as individuals? Are we a cause of pain or joy?  What is it about our lives and those of the Christian communities we belong to that attract or repel others? 

The words of Isaiah present us with more of a dilemma as we look at that city and region today, with people divided and outright hostility between communities with competing demands over the same land, the same city.  Jesus, we are told, wept over Jerusalem and many still weep today.  In that City there are people in every community who work for justice and peace.  We can rejoice in their witness, place ourselves in solidarity with those who suffer, and add our voices to the cry for justice and peace.

Loving God, we rejoice:

In your love for us

for those who love us and inspire us

with those who work for peace and justice

Loving God, we weep:

For the people of the Holy Land

For those with sadness in their hearts.

We give thanks that you meet us in our joys and in our sorrows.  Amen.

Peter Smith

Manley Park & Chorlton Methodist Church

Monday, 7 April

[God says,] “I brought you from the ends of the earth; I called you from its farthest corners and said to you, ‘You are my servant.’ I did not reject you, but chose you.” Isaiah 41:9

[Jesus said,] “You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures. And so the Father will give you whatever you ask of him in my name.” 

John 15:16

I would encourage you to reach for your Bible and take some time to read these two passages in context. The verse from Isaiah forms part of a larger passage in which God recalls to Israel that He is with them in their past, present and future. The verse from St John’s Gospel can be found within a discourse which begins with Jesus saying that He is the real vine.

Very often, we stereotype and generalise the Old Testament to be the part of the Bible which shows a harsher side to God, and the New Testament to reflect the grace and mercy through Jesus’ death on the Cross. However, these two verses, when read in context, turn around those generalisations.

The words God speaks in the Isaiah passage are assertive and firm and the style is in keeping with an advocate’s address in court (Isaiah 41:2), where God speaks up for and defends His client, the people of Israel. His words affirm God’s ownership and love of Israel: there is no mention of Israel’s deeds. Israel is simply accepted and loved by God.

In the passage from John, Jesus speaks in a metaphor: each and every person/Christian is called to love and to follow Christ’s teaching, in deed as well as in faith. In contrast with the Isaiah passage, Jesus’ words to us are stark: “Those who do not remain in me are thrown out like a branch and dry up; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, where they are burned.” (John 15:6).

God loves us unconditionally, but our response to His love is that we are to love others and to live out our lives in service to others – “to go and bear much fruit”. Lent is a time to reflect and get rid of those dried-up branches in our lives. We are now about two-thirds the way through Lent. In our prayers today, let us ask ourselves before God, how are we doing in our respective Lenten self-disciplines?

Walt Johnson

The Metropolitan Church

Fifth Sunday of Lent, 6 April

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. Proverbs 21:3

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:27

I never liked the word ‘sacrifice’ since the first time I learned how to write it in Chinese. The word ‘sacrifice’ in Chinese is ‘牺牲’ which consists of two characters ——’牺’and’牲’. ‘牺’ originally means ‘animal of a uniform colour for sacrifice’ and ‘牲’ initially meant ‘animal which is sacrificed with its whole body ’. ‘牛’ as one part of both characters actually means ‘cow’. Therefore, every time when I write the word ‘牺牲’ I have this image of a white cow being killed in front of a temple. The contrast of the bright red of the blood and the pure white of the fur is so vivid and harsh.

I still didn’t like the word ‘sacrifice’ when I grew a bit older and started learning history, when I read the story of those heroes who sacrificed their lives to protect the people. I am deeply grateful for their sacrifice for righteousness and justice. However, at the same time, I struggle. I questioned myself again and again: could I sacrifice my life like these heroes? I am ashamed that I don’t have a clear answer. I doubt whether I would be brave enough.

I was amazed by the word ‘living sacrifice’ when I first came to UK and started to recognise God. That was the moment when I realised killing an animal or to sacrifice my own life to achieve righteousness and justice was not what God wanted. Instead, God wants us simply to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep ourselves unstained by the world because a sacrifice has been made for us.

Hengyi Wang

St Clement’s

Saturday, 5 April

I will satisfy the weary, and all who are faint I will replenish.     

Jeremiah 31:25

And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10

The Old Testament reading sits within a passage rich in thunderous declarations about the building up of God’s people and which also reminds of the promise of having being loved with an everlasting love.

There is comfort instead of sorrow. Mourning becoming gladness. Rebuilding and the levelling of paths. All by the One who also stirs up the sea, so that its waves roar.

And indeed, there is the promise to replenish those who are faint.

How might we make sense of the words of the ancient prophet as we journey through our lives?

Perhaps the scripture best serves us when we think of replenishment, renewal and restoration to us in a very personal and spiritual way. Moreover, how, where and with whom we might be open to God’s promise to do just that.

The theme is picked up by Peter, following on from the earlier verse about casting all our anxieties onto Christ. He speaks of having ‘suffered for a while’ and I suggest we stick with thinking of suffering in a spiritual way too.

Perhaps when our experience is that God is silent, or to use the imagery elsewhere in the Old Testament, the land is parched and there is no fruit on the vine.

But God in his graciousness will bring strength and restoration, just as He has promised.

Lord, may we trust you to renew our spiritual strength, to be built up, restored and replenished during this season of Lent.

John H

St Clement’s

Friday, 4th April

‘Because the poor are despoiled, because the needy groan, I will now rise up,’ says the Lord;‘I will place them in the safety for which they long.’ Psalm 12:5.

And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgement. John 16:8

Being poor is a relative thing for many of us, given the current economic climate most of us will have made some changes to our lives as a result. The writer in the Psalm is not thinking of folk who may be a little less affluent; they speak of God’s attitude and promise to those who find themselves in great hardship and struggling to cope with the basic things in life, food, warmth & shelter. Folk may be tempted to put aside moral or spiritual matters if the basics of survival are a challenge and so God’s Holy Spirit is at work in all of our hearts trying to reveal new insight of the truth of God’s promise and love for us; to support others and not condemn them, to raise folk up and not to judge them, for the Spirit will convict each of us for our actions.

We are challenged to look out for those less fortunate than ourselves, by doing so we become God’s hands at work in the world, we must deny those attitudes that blame the poor for their poverty and help to build a society that does not marginalise the least influential of its citizens.

We pray for those that have suffered injustice because they are poor and for other reasons,

Lord you are the defender of the poor and oppressed, we ask that you will deliver them from oppression and lift them up for your glory, challenge us to care and to connect with practical expressions of love.

Dan Joseph

Metropolitan Church

Thursday, 3 April

 Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who are glad at calamity will not go unpunished. Proverbs 17:5

But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’

Luke 14:13-14

Both these readings are challenging. Are we not in this country sneering at or mocking the poor as the division between the prosperous and the rest becomes wider? Is it not mocking that the poor are expected to pay, through reduced benefits, for the excessive borrowings of wealthier people?

Luke’s Gospel in its directness is even more forceful. Can we escape the challenge by saying that we give to Christian Aid or help with a food bank or otherwise challenge the inequalities in society? We might give a coin to the man at the entrance to Morrisons or buy a copy of Big Issue, while worried whether we are supporting drug or alcohol abuse. In what remains of the welfare state, we may argue that we support the state to meet our challenge and campaign for justice for the poor. But that is not the challenge to our own comfortable life with our friends.

But perhaps this is too literal in interpreting the invitation to a meal.   Are we in the church too concerned with our own people and their like in preserving our institution, developing our faith and caring for church members?   Can we do more to share the invitation to the great feast?  

Loving God, break down our caution and strengthen our hospitality.   Enable us to widen our invitation to share your great feast.

George Morton

Wilbraham St Ninian’s

Wednesday, 2 April

 You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin: you shall reprove your neighbour or you will incur guilt yourself. 

Leviticus 19:17

“If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one.”  Matthew 18:15

How often do you reprove your neighbour? If I did, I think I might get a mouthful back, if not a punch in the face. That’s how strange this passage sounds to modern ears. For the Israelites who had received the Law from Moses it probably sounded quite different. Their society was based on the family, the tribe, the nation, distinct from the surrounding tribes. They were to keep themselves holy as their God was holy. So hatred of anyone in the family could lead to diluting the purity and cohesion of that society and make them no better than the Canaanite tribes around them. There are plenty of stories in the Old Testament showing the consequences of family and tribal feuds. What is interesting here is the call to responsibility, not just for one’s own actions, but for those of others within the national family: not just sins of commission but of omission, if they failed to try to bring back the wayward to the fold. A couple of verses later come the words “… you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the Lord.”

I do not think it is a coincidence that Jesus speaks the words from Matthew’s gospel between the parable of the lost sheep and his call to keep on forgiving. The parable tells us the extent of God’s love for all his people: every one is precious. He is prepared to keep on searching, keep on trying till he finds that individual and restores him or her, bringing new life, hope and security in the knowledge of that love. Jesus extends the concept of kin beyond national boundaries to all in the community of faith. Rather than bearing grudges, we should quietly sort out disagreements with our fellow Christians, if possible, constructively, not destructively but with under-standing and forgiveness. By so doing, we do not give up on them, but following God’s example, seek to be good shepherds guiding them to him.

Do we do enough to nurture young Christians, to help them develop their faith?

Lord, help us to see you in others. May our lives reflect your love so that others are drawn to you.

                                                                        

Kate Grand

Chorlton Central

Tuesday, 1 April

Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.” Proverbs 24:29

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy”

Matthew 5:7

Many of us are tempted to retaliate when we feel we have been wronged.  Small siblings are well known for their retaliation, and such childhood scraps may be broken up with a request that they should live together peaceably.  It is considered a mark of maturity when such events cease.  Sadly, we all know that this is frequently not the case. 

Justice may demand that the perceived or actual wrong be acknowledged and that in some cases punishment be meted out.  So why did the writer of Proverbs advise against seeking payback?  Perhaps it is because, in seeking retaliation, more harm comes to the person who retaliates than to the person who started it all.  To keep a store of wrongs can hold one back, and what we often need is truth and reconciliation in order to start afresh.

In Matthew 5:7, Jesus says “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy”.

Today is April Fool's Day.  Are you prepared to be a fool for God and turn your back on the desire to get back at people – are you ready to be merciful?  Let your April Fool's jokes be all for fun, not for spite.

Lord, we ask you to save us from the temptation of dwelling on the wrongs we suffer.

Give us grace to seek reconciliation rather than revenge.

Winifred Jones

St Werburgh’s

Monday, 31 March

For I have chosen Abraham, that he may charge his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice; so that the Lord may bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” Genesis 18:9

Is this blessedness, then, pronounced only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We say, “Faith was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness.” Romans 4:9

God is good to us and has created a new beginning for us in the telling of his promise and the choice of Abraham and his descendants (us) out of his unfailing love and faith in us, to satisfy both justice and love. I God’s Love for us he disciplines us like a parent would a child, to show of the unfailing love we have from him and to keep us on the true faith. God remains faithful to our faithlessness and patient to our impatience. God is our father and friend; therefore our only hope for the future. If we follow God in our ways and actions in life, the promise God has made to us will be kept.

The happiness from God belongs to all who truly repent and turn to him in faith. Because of Abraham’s faith in God we are all accepted into God’s Kingdom if we are faithful and just throughout our lives. The feeling of wellbeing is from God’s love for us in our faith. With this he will accept us into his kingdom. Do not be afraid of God’s word. There is here a salvation for everyone who has faith in him. We are all worthy of God’s promise. All those who repent in faith God sees as righteous. To them the promise of eternal life will be given. The free gift to us from God.

Steven Cheshire

St Clement’s

Fourth Sunday of Lent, 30 March

As soon as we heard it, our hearts failed, and there was no courage left in any of us because of you. The Lord your God is indeed God in heaven above and on earth below. Joshua 2:11

Though he was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. Philippians 2:6-7

The setting - Joshua has inherited, from Moses, the position and responsibilities of leader. God has confirmed to Joshua the promise of a land for the Israelites, and reminded him of their commitment of obedience to God. Immediate context - Joshua has sent two spies to Jericho. They are protected by a woman named Rahab. After sending the king’s men away, she speaks to Joshua’s men. She has heard about the strength and power of the God of Joshua; she has no doubt that they will be successful in their conquest of Jericho.  Rahab seems moved by God’s faithfulness, by the strength of relationship between God and people.

The setting - From the most personal of Paul’s letters, written to strengthen the commitment and faith of the Christians of Philippi, Christ is seen as the focus and model for Discipleship.

In our reading there is expression, celebration of Christ’s divinity and humanity. Christ, being one with the Father, became, not just mortal, but like a servant. Through the incarnation God shows an utter faithfulness and commitment to humankind – to humble himself and become human.  

Lord, through the changing seasons:

Help us keep in mind your faithfulness always.

Help us feel the warmth of humility.

Help us see the strength of your love.

Help us know your promise for us.

Help us remain faithful to you.

Lord of the changing seasons,

I place myself in your hands, to love and serve.

Amen    

LMW

St Clement’s