Welcome
|
Welcome to the Atlantic Coast Cluster web site We are living in strange times, and we are permitted to open our churches for private prayer and worship. Currently there are no Sunday Services being held in the cluster, one line services are aviable, via zoom or on the audio page of this site. If you wish to obtain the zoom link for Sunday worship please email atlanticcoastcluster@btinternet.com if you know of someone who has not got internet access then the daily service can be I will contine to post things that I have found helpful below as well as the Sunday Reflection
above is a photo the blessing which is in my hall, the celtic blessing, Useful links From the Times - Ways to Improve your Mood A 3 minute meditation +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-++-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-++-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ Reflection for the 2nd Sunday of Lent Reflection We continue our Lenten journey through Mark’s Gospel and today we are treated to a Peter moment. One theme that runs throughout this gospel is the idea that God is doing something new and different through Jesus. That the old has passed away and the new has come, and the challenge that presents to anyone who has fixed ideas about how God does things. Now, I don’t know about you, but I rather like Peter. His ‘say it he sees it’ style, is something I like. He is no reserved introvert, staying quiet, and pondering on things. He jumps right on in there. He often says what many others are thinking, so gets it out in the open, so to speak, but often then needs to be put right. Here, just after Jesus has asked his followers, who they say he is, and Peter has responded with ‘You are the Messiah’ we see another case of Peter getting in there and challenging, saying what everyone else would be thinking. So, having made the affirmation that Jesus is the Messiah, Peter cannot understand the words of Jesus. There was no way, the leaders of the church could, would, treat God’s anointed one, the Messiah, in such a way. The Messiah would be hailed and venerated. The Messiah would come and lead God’s people into a new age on earth,. The whole point of the Messiah was that he would be the one to deliver Israel and vindicate the claims of God’s people. The Messiah would be recognised by his leadership and by the overthrowing of the Roman overloads and the re-establishment of the nation. He would lead them from oppression to freedom, reinstate them as a great free nation. The Messiah would be venerated, not killed. Peter’s ideas and those of the faithful had been set. This is what a Messiah would do, a suffering, dying Messiah was not the plan. Peter’s mind set was not unique, or unusual it was the norm. He says what everyone else understands to be true. This could not happen. If Jesus is the Messiah, he cannot die in this way, and Jesus response could appear to be terse and hard. Get behind me Satan! He calls Peter out, telling him he and therefore the elder’s, the scribes and the chief priests have got it wrong. Peter and the leaders are only seeing things from an earthly perspective, a worldly perspective, where self is king, but the Messiah is about so much more. The cosmic, heavenly vison, the Kingdom of God, does not conform to earthly things. This is not about an earthly nation, this is about the Kingdom of God, being established. This is not about re-creating anything that has been before this is about a new creation. Behold I am doing a new thing, now it springs forth, do you not precede it, to use the words of Isaiah. Jesus then goes on to remind people, that there is a cost to following him. In accepting the new way that God is acting, it is going to be costly. It is not a literal call for all to take up their cross and follow Jesus to Golgotha, although some will, but rather it is warning to the new community of followers, that there will be a loss of self in this new way of God. That there should be a willingness to sacrifice through love for others rather than live in a selfish, self-absorbed way. The promise of real change and the establishment of the kingdom of God can only happen, when the importance of self and worldliness is reduced. Set your mind on things above, not earthly things. The message is, following Jesus does not come without a cost. We are called to be a people who put others before self, who care for the whole of creation. It is not just about what I want, about self-gratification. The kingdom of God is not about dominance and power of status. It is about sacrificial love and service. It was a new message when Jesus preached it, nearly 2000 years ago, and many found it too radical, and too far away from their intrinsic expectations of God to accept it. It is still a message that many have yet to hear and some who do find it too challenging but for offers it is hope. Hope of a better world here, hope for the poor, oppressed, weak and vulnerable, hope for an eternal home where the struggles of this world are overcome. So, we all need to keep alert, for signs of God at work, remembering that our God is a God of surprises and is still doing new things, we need to be alert to them, ready to join in, bearing our cross of love and service in the help and support of others. Amen
St Cubertus by Sue Parkington “Tis closed”, the old man said, “Locked and cold within”, ‘Why’s that?’I asked ‘I can’t make sense of thee’. “Tis the virus; and the Bishops, So they say, They’m scared we might get sick. I’m only ninety three” ‘Let’s chat outside a while’ I said, Though raining heavily. “No good”, he said, then added, “Just come along with me, ‘Tis cosy in the south porch, And sheltered from the breeze”. And so we shared our crib there, Saffron bun and mug of tea. Keeping social distancing! A friend and company.
Precious Life (An Acrostic for Easter Time 2020) by Liz Cleves Perhaps we are listening, and Remembering what is dear to us Each of us recollecting Spring times, and the promise of nature bringing its gifts Conscious too that the beautiful Earth is suffering from our ‘overload’. In the morning I listen to the robin and the wren guarding my garden, and Out early I see the mighty sun lift over the horizon Unfettered and free in it’s course. Softly I give thanks for all in my care and all that I receive.
Let me give thanks In every way let me treasure my life and all that is dear to me Fearing only fear itself and Enjoying all while I may.
|
