Why not close out Didsbury Arts Festival with our Songs of Praise evening on Sunday at Christ Church West Didsbury? Refreshments served afterwards. We would love to see you there. All are welcome.
Posted in Announcement, Ecumenical, Publicity
Christian Aid Week is coming! It will take place this year between 15th and 21st May. Churches Working Together in Didsbury will commence the week with a united service of worship at East Didsbury Methodist Church. To download a pdf flier (A5) just click on the image below.
Genesis 2.15-17
We are asked to take care of a beautiful world, but what has gone wrong? The symbolism in this passage shows a deep and difficult truth. We are not to decide what is right and what is wrong, that is God’s role.
We have a lot of responsibility in caring for the earth, working for a living, taking care of friends and family, living a Christian life, but our responsibility has limits. In all things we are to respect God’s authority. He is not only our boss, but also our maker. God knows our motives, understands the limits of our knowledge and experience, and can predict people’s actions and reactions. Really it doesn’t make sense for us to charge off with righteous indignation before checking things with our Father who knows us all so well. Our submission to God is the order and pattern shown in Genesis 2. In our clearer moments it is incredible that we would ever think that we know best, but our habits and instincts are deeply ingrained.
The Old Testament urges us to: ‘Wait for the Lord and seek His way.’ (Psalm 37.34), and, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding’ (Proverbs 3.5). This theme is strongly continued in the teaching of Jesus. A relationship with God, through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, allows us to head off again in the right direction. With God at the head of our lives, we find peace.
Forgive me: when I think I have all the answers; when I judge others. Please give me: the grace to forgive; the sense to bring problems to you, even when solutions seem straightforward. Please show me: your way; your timing; when to speak out. ‘to the only wise God be glory for ever through Jesus Christ! Amen.’ (Romans 16.27)
Sarah Chambers
Didsbury Baptist Church
Posted in Biblical reflection
Luke 5.27-32
In Jesus’ time tax collectors were more reviled than the modern day bankers! They were seen as collaborators with the Romans and often made their money by over taxing the people (maybe the modern equivalent of over generous bonuses!) They were the group everybody loved to hate, ranked with ‘sinners’ and outcasts. However it was to these that Jesus’ message was usually best received.
Levi (the name means joined) didn’t dither. He lived up to his name and immediately left everything and joined Jesus. No hesitation there then, quite the opposite, he even put on a huge party and invited all his friends. Jesus had no hesitation in joining in with the party. He did not attempt to quash the celebrations or refuse to mix with Levi’s friends. The Pharisees were a bit put out by this. They liked to keep themselves very distant and separate from these sinners.
In Jesus’ reply to the Pharisees was he implying that they were already perfect and therefore in no need of salvation? I don’t think so, although it’s a comfortable trap to fall into. It is easy sometimes to just chug along, going to church on Sunday, getting involved when necessary, and trying to live an acceptable life. I wonder what I would find though if I asked God to give me a full spiritual check up?
Dear Lord,
It’s time for my spiritual check-up. Please revive in me the attitude of Levi and to follow you without hesitation. Help me to hear your words and to action them and please put a check on this niggling Pharisee attitude. Amen.
Catherine Elliott
Didsbury Baptist Church
Posted in Biblical reflection
Matthew 9.14-15
In tradition and text this passage is dear to Matthew, Herod Antipas’ tax collector who became the Lord’s apostle. It occurs in his home immediately after his calling during a dinner with Jesus. Imagine it, one moment Matthew is hated among his people as an agent for oppression and corruption. And then, in a twinkling, he is consecrated to the Messiah as an intimate servant, an agent of liberty and salvation to his people as evangelist. Little wonder the risen revenuer hosted a feast for both sides of the aisle, Jesus’ disciples and his old crowd.
There’s no wonder why this festive union distressed wedding-crashing gangs with vested sacral-sin interests, the Pharisees and the disciples of John the Baptist. Both were still clinging to their expired titles and former things, while the world-changing unmerited favour that spoke into Matthew’s tax booth earlier that day made him anew as he followed Jesus. Neither uninvited gang understood the Spirit of celebration or perceived the weight of the ceremony. Beyond chagrin and contempt, we might also expect that a few were a bit jealous of Jesus’ spousal defence of Matthew in these verses.
It is too easy to read this passage as a primer on the ‘I do’s and ‘I don’t’s of fasting or the new dispensation. In context, the author’s big idea is not to create another religion or make disciples for John the Baptist— putting new wine into old skins. The idea is to illustrate Jesus’ actual fulfilment of an old religion and what it literally means to be baptized by the Holy Spirit and fire. Christians do not fast for sacrifice. When Christians fast, we viscerally remember and learn God’s mercy and how we should follow him, be he near or far. For that is God’s desire.
Stephen McBay
Didsbury Baptist Church
Posted in Biblical reflection
Luke 9.22-25
At the start of this passage Jesus is speaking to his disciples, teaching them and preparing them for what is to come. He refers to himself as the ‘Son of Man’. This emphasises his humanity and his identification with his disciples and with all humankind – including us. Yet he knew what was to come. He would face suffering – physical abuse, injustice, and rejection. This would come from the religious leaders, men with power and influence. How would Jesus have felt about that? How would the disciples have felt when he told them? Afraid? Confused? Indignant?
Jesus goes on to talk about his death and resurrection. What would the disciples’ reaction have been? They did not have the benefit of hindsight. Jesus then turns to the crowd (compare Mark 8:34) and talks about what will be required of those who follow him. They must deny themselves, ‘take up their cross daily’ and follow him. They should be prepared to lose their life in order to save it. What did he mean by this? What should we deny ourselves or give up for his sake? Maybe our money, possessions and luxuries. Maybe our time, our privacy. Would we be prepared, if it came to it, to die for him?
What is the cross we should take up? How do we follow Jesus? We have his teaching and his example. We need to know these and do the best we can to obey him and be like him. All the wealth and power in the world are not worth losing our self- respect and our relationship with God for.
Lord, please help me to follow your example and your teaching in my thoughts, in my attitudes, in my actions and in my words; with the help of the Spirit and to the glory of the Father; Amen.
Nicky Jackson
Didsbury Baptist Church
Posted in Biblical reflection
Wednesday 9 March, Ash Wednesday
John 8.1-11
The Law of Moses required that both parties to adultery be stoned. The leaders who brought only the woman and not the man to Jesus had themselves shown disregard for the law. Jesus responds by agreeing that the law should be upheld, but by saying that only a sinless person could throw the first stone, Jesus highlights the importance of compassion and forgiveness. The shamed leaders slip quietly away leaving Jesus and the woman alone.
Perhaps we have judged or criticised people because of the way they live or dress, because of their appearance, colour, accent and even the language they use. We often have preconceived ideas and assumptions – the singer Susan Boyle springs to mind! I remember waiting at a bus stop in Moss Side one evening when I was joined by a haggard-looking young man with red-rimmed eyes. You can perhaps imagine my feelings. However, we both greeted and smiled at each other and spent the next ten minutes in conversation – mainly about public transport (or the lack of it). Lesson learnt!
Jesus did not condemn the woman; neither did he condone her sin. ‘Go and sin no more’. Jesus is ready to forgive any sin in our lives, but confession and repentance mean a change of heart.
God of kindness and compassion, we turn to you in repentance. Remind us that you require mercy and not sacrifice. Forgive us when we have been selfish and unmindful of others, intolerant of them and lacking in patience. Forgive us when we have judged others, forgetting that in doing so we ourselves are judged. Lord, as we live by your forgiving grace, keep us mindful of our Saviour’s word, that
forgiven much, we too may forgive. Amen.
Jean Bridson
Didsbury Baptist Church
Churches Working Together in Didsbury is to produce a new booklet of Lenten devotional readings for 2011. The booklet is about to go to print but you can download an advance copy by clicking here.
On Sunday 9 May Churches Working Together in Didsbury will gather for a United Service of Worship to launch Christian Aid Week in our area. It will take place at Christ Church United Reformed Church, Parrs Wood Road at 6.30 p.m. It will be preceded by a bring-and-share-supper at 5.30 p.m. Please join us.
