It is funny how Christmas TV adverts have become such a big part of the Christmas build up these days. “I wonder what the [insert shop] Christmas advert will be this year?”, is said in anticipation by many. Hints are dropped in almost trailer-like fashion and then the advert arrives, and social media goes nuts.
Read MoreOur God is a generous God: not a sensible, give-them-what-they-need kind of God, but a God whose heart overflows with kindness, richness, and a desire to bless. When God gives, He gives the best. And it is so good —so refreshing, liberating, and challenging—for us to remember that.
Read MoreWhy do children gather with us to worship on Sundays? Because they’re included with us in God’s gracious covenant promises in Christ! (Acts 2:39)
So what does that mean practically in our services?
What can we be doing as a whole church family to serve our children in the time they are there with us?
Read MoreIt’s Sunday morning and as our service begins, there sitting amongst the adults, in the building or at home watching the livestream … are children. And what exactly are they doing there?! Just killing time waiting to head out for Sunday Club activities? Feeling fidgety, distracting those around them, raising the blood pressure of self-conscious parents trying to keep them quiet?! If we’re honest, there’ll be elements of all that going on – being family together is rarely neat and tidy! But they’re also there, gathered with us, because we’re convinced that it’s a good thing … for them and for us!
Read MoreAt the beginning of September there was a big push to get children back into school, and rightly so: education is important. It was also the time we began to gather as a church again. It has been limited of course: restricted numbers, lack of singing, some unable to return for health or practical reasons – but we have gathered. We have gathered from some of our oldest to some of our youngest, and it is our youngest I wanted to mention briefly. While we might instinctively feel ‘children should get back to school, it’s important for them’, we should have the same instinct and hope for their presence with us as we gather for worship.
Read More“All is flux, nothing stays still” remarks Heraclitus, one of the earliest philosophers in Western history. If we take a moment to think about it, it is indeed so. Actually, there aren’t many things in life that are as certain as change, even if we are not necessarily aware of it, nor do we think about it very much most of the time. Nevertheless, change is constant.
Read MoreThe Church is no stranger to crisis. In fact, the human history of the Church could be considered one crisis after another, each bringing with it both uncertainty and disruption. Earthquakes and epidemics, dearth and drought, conflict and persecution, every emergency imaginable has faced God’s people at one point or another: COVID-19 is simply the most recent.
Read MoreWe’ve all been doing a lot of waiting. Waiting for lockdown to end. Waiting for schools to restart. Waiting for government announcements. Waiting for church to meet in person. Waiting for the next parcel to be delivered.
Waiting is strange. It has so many forms. Some waiting is rather appealing. We eagerly anticipate the arrival of a good friend. We long for the start of the summer holidays. ‘I can’t wait’, we say. But, of course, we can. Indeed we must, because most of the time we have no choice. Not waiting simply isn’t an option open to us.
Read MoreI was walking down a busy road recently when I noticed a young boy on a yellow bike by a zebra crossing. As he noticed me, he declared that he was trying to get to the other side but he was scared, sensing rightly that it wasn’t safe to cross on his own. After a minute or two, his parents appeared around the corner. The little boy still needed to cross the dangerous road but he belonged to two adults who went with him and he was kept safe.
Read MoreWith summer now truly upon us and lockdown easing still further, our minds are perhaps turning to holidays and the possibility of taking a break, whatever that would look like! Even as we continue to push through with the new normal we are, I’m sure, glad of opportunities for rest and refreshment.
Read MoreApparently, the Eurovision Song Contest replacement event last Saturday wasn’t well received. It was variously labelled as long, tortuous, stilted and depressing, though that doesn’t sound any different from the normal show to me… Leaving aside my musical snobbery for a moment, it’s fair to say that people are desperate for reminders of joyful, pre-lockdown gatherings and are disappointed by having to cope with pale digital imitations.
Read MoreTwitter had a post the other week: one woman, Alexandra, recounting the day a stream of cars drove past her home. The reason? It was her son’s 3rd birthday, his party obviously cancelled but his little friends were driven past to say ‘Happy Birthday’ – at a safe distance. You can imagine the impact this brief connection with friends made; the longing for contact seems hard-wired into us.
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