World mental health day occurred on October 10th and is an opportunity for us to recognise the importance of our own mental health and the mental wellbeing of others too. Rachel talks to us about how our talking about our mental health matters – as it’s only through sharing with each other and with Christ can we receive relief and value for ourselves.
Some 795 million people – one in nine of all people on the planet – do not have enough food to live a healthy life: but of the haves vs have nots, one percent of the worlds population account for over half the worldy wealth. There’s a huge divide between human beings in a world God intended to be equal: do we choose not to notice the boundary of rich and poor?
For our Harvest Festival service, Maureen Harris, a member of neighbouring St Thomas’ Church in Lymingon and active in Traidcraft, talked to us about the importance of buying fairly traded goods – and why it makes a difference to the lives and communities of the growers and producers of items we take for granted.
God’s gifts to us and the flourishing of God’s creation are clear. The world is God’s perfect gift to us; all we have is God’s gift to us and is the foundation of our worship. But; we are threatening the balance of our world through exceeding balances through our greed and overuse – and through our actions, we are making many of God’s creatures extinct.
Everyone is hungry – we’re all looking for bread; however, the problem isn’t that we’re hungry – the problem is with the type of bread we eat. Are we eating the bread of loneliness, regret, selfishness – or accepting the living bread that is Jesus – offering himself in all of our relationships?
The lost sheep; we’re all familiar with the story – but do you believe it? Do you doubt with a nagging internal monologue stating “I’m not good enough” that Jesus won’t find you worthy, over that of friends or family? Or on the other side of the story – if we feel we’re doing everything right, why should the lost who comes back through Jesus take priority over us?
Have you said “yes” before reading the small print first? There’s a cost, to discipleship – and Jesus warns us of this. Are we sometimes guilty of portraying the Christian faith as simple, not requiring full commitment? Of course we want to be welcoming …but are we guilty of making it seem too easy?
What are we doing when we pray for healing? Rachel shares something of her own experience of an encounter with God, the gifts of the spirit, through a lower point in her life in hospital. Do we accept who we are – do we let go of our need to control, to always get it right, our fears: allowing us to step back and know God with us now?
‘I Bow Down’: performed before intercessions on 25th August 2019 – words and Music Cindy Rethmeier, performed by Jane and Leigh of St Mark’s choir.
The miracles of this planet are simply mind boggling. So much life, so much diversity: created by a loving God who lends us this planet in trust. However, do we forget this, acting as if we own it – and in the process, abuse it for our selfish gain? Is it too late; or is there time to realise – and return through Jesus the respect this world deserves, by respecting who truly owns the land?
