Nicodemus ‘came to Jesus by night’: the night and darkness bring fears: for nothing to do we pray the Evening Collect. Some have said that Nicodemus was hiding in the darkness. By day Nicodemus knows who he is. He has an identity. He is a Pharisee. He has a role and a reputation as a leader of the Jews. He is ‘Israel’s teacher’. But by night Nicodemus is confused: and so comes to Jesus to be illuminated.
Sometimes it’s easy to get completely overwhelmed in a world that seems to demand easy, quick answers to every situation. The story of Jesus temptations in the wilderness suggests that this is not new: all Jesus temptations were for the quick, instant, easy solution. But each time, he refuses. This is the invitation of Lent: to follow in Christ’s footsteps, to move through the wilderness of self-deception – and to live in the truth of Christ.
Our Morning Praise service from Sunday 23rd February – where today, as we think ahead to Lent, we also consider Fairtrade Fortnight: how can we all ensure that those who produce the goods we take for granted – in today’s service, we’re thinking of chocolate – are rightly paid for the effort they undertake to provide for us?
“I feel like there are parts of myself that have been lost along the way, and I don’t know if I can go back and find them again.” Is this how the woman who lost a coin or the shepherd who lost a sheep felt; for these in the parable, this was more than a coin, more than a sheep – without what we’ve lost, we’re less than the whole and want ourselves back.
How many of you wonder if the reading from Matthew 6 doesn’t apply to you? Don’t worry, be happy? If we’re honest with ourselves, do we wonder if this inspirational stuff is fine if you’re young – but for adult modern life, doesn’t apply? After all – this isn’t going to pay the rent, repair the car, overcome the concerns of our lives. Yet Jesus knew about worries, he knew about life – he tells us to stop worrying and asks us to notice the moment. To give our attention to what God has for us now – as He will help us deal with tomorrow when it comes.
On Sunday 9th February 2020, at 4pm, members of St Mark’s church joined Anne’s new church family from St Andrew’s in Tiptoe and All Saints in Hordle – as together, we celebrated Anne’s welcome as associate priest for St Andrew’s church.
We’ve all been at an occassion where we meet new people and have to introduce ourselves. How do we answer that question – have we ever answered that question by saing “I am the salt of the earth, the light of the world!” Probably not; but Jesus answered his disciples to suggest this is what they were. Being salt and light is unique to each of us – but how we shine our light and sprinkle our salt will reflect and reveal the life of God with us.
When you open the bible, Haggai is one of the twelve minor prophets, right at the end of the Old Testament. It can be a hard book to find, as it’s a very short one: but there’s important lessons inside which can help us reflect on the importance we place on bricks and mortar – instead of the living temple that is Jesus Christ.
Today is the feast of Candlemas, where we remember Jesus being presented at the temple. With the blessing of candles for the year to come and a reminder of our baptismal vows, is Candlemas really for the adults whereas Christmas is for the children – or is there something for us all at this time?
As part of the week of Christian Unity, all the churches in Lymington and Pennington met at in the morning of Sunday 26th January in St Thomas Church, Lymington – for a Christians Together service.
