Hello everyone,
Welcome to the latest issue of our church newsletter. Our newsletter is sent out regularly to share reflections from services, Bible readings and church news to our church family. You can find previous issues on our church website here.
We would love to hear from you and are always looking for uplifting and encouraging content to share in future issues of this newsletter. If you have any ideas or content that we can share, please do email them to Louise (publicity@christchurchuxbridge.org.uk)
Please note there will be no newsletter on 31 May due to the half-term break.
Opening Prayer
Mysterious God,
be with us today as we seek to know you better.
May we learn from each other as we search for you.
Teach us to ask questions as well as to expect answers.
Give us fresh understanding of yourself today.
Amen.
(Taken from Roots)
Reflection from 19 May
Readings – Acts 2: 1-21, Romans 8: 22-27
Did any of you catch a glimpse of the northern lights last weekend? We drove out into the Chiltern hills to try and get the best view. It was an amazing experience, standing there with others who had done the same, looking up into the sky and seeing a canopy of rainbow colours all around. One of my sisters described it as ‘God’s paintbrush painting the sky’ which was a beautiful description. It was a moment of awe and wonder. My social media feeds were full of photos from others who were also excited and amazed at getting to see the northern lights. An unexpected and wonderful moment.
Have you ever had an experience of getting caught up in the excitement of a moment as part of a crowd of people? A moment where you’re excited and full of amazement at something that is going on, or taking place around you? A moment where you’re full of energy and inspiration, on fire for something?
Pentecost was one of those amazing, unexpected moments for those who were in the crowd that day. A moment of radical inclusion when the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured on lavishly on those who were there. Everyone suddenly able to join in, no matter what their nationality. Everyone hearing the Good News in a language that they were able to understand and relate to.
In both our readings today, we hear of the Holy Spirit facilitating communication and making relationships possible, even where differences had seemed insurmountable. Overcoming division and fragmentation – something that is much needed in our world today when it seems that there is nothing but division and fragmentation. Every so often though, there are moments that can bind us together – moments like last weekend was for me. Standing there with others, gazing up at the sky – it didn’t matter who each of us was, what our nationality, gender identity, sexual orientation, political leaning – all of the things that make us ‘other’ – was. We were just people together, sharing a common moment of wonder and awe.
Like those photos of the northern lights that were splashed across social media last weekend, Pentecost is full of vibrancy, colour and promise. It’s a story of great hope and excitement, an empowering moment. But this morning, perhaps we’re feeling more like those who slept through the northern lights, those who missed out on that experience. Perhaps we feel that this is a story for back then – a story that feels so very far removed from our own experience of church.
Many churches have closed over recent years, many congregations are dwindling. There seem to be fewer resources, fewer people who are able to take on roles of responsibility or volunteer for smaller roles within the church. Instead of being on fire, full of energy and enthusiasm, we might be feeling burnt out and exhausted. Just keeping going is hard enough, let alone finding the energy to move forward and to find new ways of being church.
But going back to days before Pentecost, the early disciples may have felt despondent too. They’d been through quite the emotional rollercoaster. The devastation of Jesus’s death, followed by the joy of his resurrection, and then the experience of loss once more as Jesus left them to ascend into heaven. They may have felt fearful, abandoned, disappointed, confused. Can any of you relate to moments of feeling like that on your faith journey? I know I certainly can.
Our reading from Romans talks about the whole creation groaning. That image of ‘groaning as in the pains of childbirth’ is one that particularly speaks to me as a former midwife and one that I was very familiar with. It’s a very primal, instinctive groan and that kind of primal groaning can also come in times of difficulty, when everything feels like a huge struggle and it’s hard to see a way forward. But the reading reminds that we’re not trying to do everything on our own. That same Spirit that was promised to the disciples, that came upon the disciples at Pentecost is there for us too.
We’re reminded that the Spirit is there to help us in our weakness; that we don’t have to find the words for what we think we need, because God already knows. I find that quite liberating when it comes to prayer – that when everything feels hard and I have no idea what will help – to know that God already knows my struggles – our struggles – and hears those prayers.
The disciples were transformed when the Holy Spirit came upon them at Pentecost and fired them up – giving the energy, the enthusiasm, the power to go out and become the early church, bringing the Good News to those around them and spreading it far and wide. It was the start of something much bigger, probably bigger than any of them had ever dreamed it could be.
Standing there last weekend, gazing up at the northern lights, was also a moment of realisation that we are part of something much bigger. And as a church we are part of something bigger too. We are not alone. We are part of a world-wide family of Christians. Dysfunctional but beloved. Beautiful in our diversity. Woven together by the wild, uncontrollable and always surprising Spirit of God. We have each other, and we have God’s love which binds us together and surrounds us, and the Spirit which helps give us strength.
We might feel tired now, we might feel despondent. But there is hope for the future. We have the prospect of a new minister to look forward to and hopefully help us to move forward into new and positive ways. We have each other. We have our experiences of being church here in Uxbridge, the ways we have helped each other learn and grown in our journeys of faith. The Spirit is at work here just as it was for the disciples. Whether it comes in a dramatic burst of wind and fire, or whether it comes quietly, encouraging us on, moving us forward, it is here. Let’s hold on to our hope for the future, our love for each other and know that God is always with us. Amen.
Louise George
Readings for 26 May
John 3: 1-17
Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Further readings from the lectionary this week are as follows:
- Isaiah 6: 1-8
- Psalm 29
- Romans 8: 12-17
Readings for 26 May
Mark 2: 23 – 3: 6
Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath
23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
25 He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”
27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
3 Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. 3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”
4 Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.
5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.
Further readings from the lectionary this week are as follows:
- Deuteronomy 5: 12-15
- Psalm 81: 1-10
- 2 Corinthians 4: 5-12
Our worship
We meet at 11am for our Sunday services, which are also live-streamed on our YouTube channel. If you wish to view our services online, you can find them at https://www.youtube.com/@christchurchuxbridge
You can also view a recent service on our church website. Our communion service this week will be led by Methodist minister and Circuit superintendent, Revd Dr Lynita Conradie. You can find the order of service here.
If you are unable to join us in person or online for our Sunday services, but would like to receive a recording of them on a memory stick to watch at home, please let us know.
Forthcoming services
26 May – Revd Dr Lynita Conradie (Methodist minister and Circuit Superintendent) – Holy Communion
2 June – Jeremy Day (URC preacher, non-accredited)
9 June – Claire Gill (Methodist deacon) – parade service
16 June – Christ Church worship group
From the Circuit
Summer fun at Hayes End – Saturday 1 June, 2-5pm
Join everyone at Hayes End Methodist Church on Saturday 1st June for their Summer Fun event. Look forward to all sorts of summer entertainment including bouncy castles, crafts, ice cream, and of course refreshments in the form of tea, coffee, and cake. Starting at 2pm and lasting until 5pm, everyone is welcome to attend. Right after the event follows Glori Kitchen from 5:30pm onwards, serving free nutritional food to the community.
Richard Reid’s 40 Years of Preaching
To celebrate Richard Reid’s 40 years of preaching milestone, look forward to a special Circuit service at North Harrow Methodist Church, Pinner Road, HA2 6EQ, at 4pm on Sunday 2nd June. Everyone is welcome to attend.
D-Day Concert at Pinner
The Royal Navy Volunteer Band will be performing a free concert to mark the 80 years since D-Day in 1944. Held in Pinner Methodist Church on Saturday 15th June at 7:30pm, the programme features Wind Band and Big Band marches, popular songs, swing music, and a traditional naval finale. The concert is free and all are welcome to attend.
URC News
Thames North Eco Day: Our Shared Climate
8 June 2024, 10am – 4pm
Vine Church, Ilford
A day exploring actions we can take to preserve human and bio diversity. Activities for all ages. Children very welcome. For more information, please email modpa@urcthamesnorth.org.uk
Jamaican government accepts URC’s apology over slavery
UK churches and the government are being encouraged to follow in the United Reformed Church’s footsteps and apologise for their roles in the transatlantic slave trade. Last month, the Hon. Olivia Grange, Jamaica’s Minister for Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, accepted an apology delivered by the Revd Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson, Moderator of the URC General Assembly, during an ecumenical service themed ‘Reparation, A Journey Towards Repentance, Repair and Reconciliation’ at Webster Memorial Church in the parish of St Andrew, an area around Jamaica’s capital, Kingston. Dr Henry-Robinson had travelled to the island with other members of the Church as part of an ecumenical pilgrimage to learn about the legacies of slavery.
Get crafting for Greenbelt
Be a part of the URC’s presence at this year’s Greenbelt festival, titled ‘Dream On’, even if you can’t be there in person. Show us what your dreams for yourself, for the church and for the world are by designing a 15x15cm square. Knit, crochet, make a patchwork square or even draw. All the squares will be joined together to make one massive quilt of dreams.
You can read more URC news online at https://urc.org.uk/our-news-stories/latest-news/
CTU Bible Study
Wednesdays from April 24th to May 29th
13:15 – 14:15 at the Quaker Meeting House, York Road, Uxbridge.
The session on 29 May will focus on Psalms 133 and 134.
All welcome. For more information, please contact Mike Beranek at mikeberanek8@gmail.com or by telephone on 07757 775625.
Dates for your diary
| 29 May | Welcome Wednesday
CTU Bible study group |
| 12 June | Welcome Wednesday |
| 26 June | Welcome Wednesday |
| 30 June | CTU AGM |
| 10 July | Welcome Wednesday |
| 24 July | Welcome Wednesday |
| 4 September | Welcome Wednesday |
| 8 September | Congregational Meeting |
| 18 September | Welcome Wednesday |
| 24 November | Congregational Meeting |
Children’s Corner
Praying for other churches
w/c 26 May
This week we hold the following in our prayers:
- The Lighthouse Centre
- Churches Together in Uxbridge
w/c 2 June
This week we hold the following churches in our prayers:
- Ruislip Manor Methodist
- Holy Trinity, Perivale (URC/CofE)
- St Margaret’s Church, Uxbridge
Closing prayer
As I rise and head out into the world,
I go to meet you, Lord God,
To discover where you are already at work,
And to get involved.
Show me the way, I pray.
Amen.
(Taken from The Vine)
