This month we enter the season of Lent that leads up to Easter.  The 40 fasting days of Lent represent the 40 days we are told in the Gospels that Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness; days that were really a time for him to explore his experience at his baptism and the direction he would take in life.

At the end of that time he went home to Nazareth and on the Sabbath went to the synagogue were he was asked to read the scripture and speak. You can read the story in Luke chapter 4.  I preached on this story in January and was asked to summarize my sermon for Look-In, so here goes.

At the heart of the story are the verses Jesus read from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”    (Luke 4:18-19)

Then he said, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Most scholars agree that the way Luke tells the story suggests this is a pivotal moment in Jesus life; that the words he read in the synagogue are fundamental to his understanding of his mission, of God’s mission.  But to say this passage describes God’s mission still begs many questions.

Who are the poor and what is good news for them?  A report published by Oxfam in January this year highlights the global inequality of wealth.  According to the report, the richest 62 people in the world have more wealth than the poorest 50% (3.6 billion people) put together, and the richest 1% have more wealth than the remaining 99% (incidentally, anyone whose total assets are worth more than £533,000 is part of that 1%).  But is being poor just about not having money?  What about those who have lost everything, lost hope, lost home, lost family, lost their future, the outsider and the refugee?

In purely financial terms it might be that some kind of redistribution of wealth from the absurdly rich to the abject poor is part of God’s day of favour (or salvation as some versions put it).  But good news for the poor is not just about having more money, it is about having hope and home and future restored.  So, should showing and sharing hospitality to those who have no place to call home be part of that good news?

Who are the captives and what is release for them?  People in Wormwood Scrubs or Broadmoor?  Do we want them to be released before their time?  But what about those held captive in Belmarsh and Harmondsworth detention centres?  Could God’s will be that these people find release?  Then there are those imprisoned by grief, regret, anger, bitterness, etc.  What might release from captivity mean for them?  Surely part of it must be to know they are loved and valued.  Is Jesus saying that to show love is the mission of God and, when love is shown God’s day of salvation is fulfilled?

Who are the blind and what does it mean for them to recover sight?  Does this just refer to those who have some form of visual impairment?  Or does it include those who choose not to see, those whose hearts and minds are closed, those of fixed opinions, and those who have lost the ability to see the humanity of other people?  In which case, what does recovery of sight mean?  Maybe the day of the Lord is a day of challenge and shock to our preconceptions and prejudices, a day that moves us from our mental comfort zones and forces us to see the limitlessness of God’s love.

Who are the oppressed and what does it mean to be set free?  Did Jesus have in mind just those living under a foreign occupying power, as the Jewish people were at that time under Roman rule?  Perhaps we should also include those who live under oppressive ideologies, like that of the so-called Islamic State.  But then there are some pretty oppressive Christian ideologies that scare me, and some oppressive attitudes in wider society that lead some people to think it is acceptable to throw stones and eggs at the homes of asylum seekers, or do worse.  Is the freedom Jesus had in mind a freedom to practice one’s own faith and culture without fear of attack?  I believe God’s day of favour is a day when people live together showing acceptance and tolerance.

The passage Jesus read in the Synagogue challenges us about our understanding of God’s mission and what ‘the day of favour (or salvation)’ means; it reminds us that God’s salvation is not about having a place in heaven, but about having a place for God’s attitude in our minds and in our actions here on earth?

The root of this vision of God’s kingdom lies in the Old Testament laws.  In the book of Leviticus, in a passage headed ‘Laws of Holiness and Justice’, we find the command:

“When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them.  The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born.  Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt”    (Leviticus 19:33-34)

A simple instruction to treat strangers in our land as if they are our own people.

The Old Testament book of Ruth tells the story of a family who twice experienced being refugees.  I highly recommend reading this beautiful short book in one go.  In it we are told how a man called Boaz put the instruction in Leviticus into practice.  Then at the end of the story, when the descendants of Ruth are listed we discover the great King David was her grandson.  From this foreigner, this asylum seeker, came the man most Jews look to as the greatest leader in their history, the man who really made them a great nation.  The point being that by keeping the law to welcome the stranger the nation became stronger.

What is the purpose of the church?  Surely it is to continue the mission of Jesus. To work for freedom for the oppressed and to bring good news to the poor is to continue the mission of Jesus. The problems of the world sometimes seem too large for us to do much about.  But global issues always have a local aspect to them.  We cannot solve the crisis in Syria or do much about the reasons people leave their homes to make a new life in a new country.  But perhaps we can help in some small way by showing and sharing love and acceptance and hospitality and support to the strangers in our midst.

Nick Skelding

This article was first published in the February 2016 issue of Look-In, our monthly church magazine.  To download the full issue, please click here: Look-In Feb 2016

One of the contrasts between our nonconformist worship and that in churches which follow a liturgy lies in the central role of the preacher. In many Anglican churches, for example, the liturgy is followed and punctuated by an ‘address’ which is often brief and insubstantial. In traditional Methodism and Congregationalism the service led up to the sermon and the centrality of the sermon was at its heart. Then the spotlight turned, even more strongly, on to the preacher – ministerial or lay. Would there be something memorable or something which caused hardly a ripple? I can still vividly recall my worshipping days at City Temple. When Leslie Weatherhead climbed to the pulpit there was an almost physical excitement across the congregation. He never disappointed!

Preachers come, as we all well know, in all ‘shapes and sizes’! Some are orators. others are low key. Some are theologians, or scholars, or teachers, or philosophers. or politicians who speak lines but allow us to read between those lines. Some conform rigidly to established norms and doctrine, others push at the boundaries. Some are traditionalists, others are innovators. Some challenge and provoke thought, others comfort and reassure. Some fill the pews, others thin them out. Some welcome comment afterwards, even disagreement, others are irritated by it. Some devise services of peerless beauty, others prefer to be almost homely and even self-deprecatory. All are predictable. See a name on the Plan and we know what to expect! Even those preachers who protest that the service is not ‘theirs’ then (quite rightly) stamp their own style and vision on every service they conduct!

To my mind (and as always I could be wrong) this is what makes our nonconformist worship exciting and meaningful. We gain from hearing men and women with different qualities and insights who can gather up our thoughts and feelings and lift us to the heights. There is no right or wrong way, only different ways.

Read, if you will, Hymns and Psalms 158. Samuel Greg’s verses perhaps say much. Therein lies a blueprint perhaps? So never let us forget the responsibility we rest on the shoulders of our preachers.  I once met a preacher who told me “when I step down from the pulpit, I am drained. I have poured my whole self into the service and my sermon. I am spent!”

As always I ask YOU a question! What do YOU expect from a preacher?

Howard Cooper

This article was first published in the January 2016 issue of Look-In, our monthly church magazine.  To download the full issue, please click here: Look-In – January 2016

A certain artist in the nineteenth century chanced one day to look out of his window.  He saw the pathetic figure of a beggar limping past, clothed in rags and plodding mechanically along.  Something about the man made the artist dash out and invite him to sit for his portrait.

The beggar, sensing the chance of a little money, perhaps a meal, followed his host into the studio and slouched in a chair.  The artist looked critically at the tramp – a broken man, old before his time, all the light of life faded from his eyes.  Or nearly all, for suddenly – inspired by the face of his model – the artist set aside the canvas on which he had been working, took a new one, and with bold strokes began a new portrait.

The artist was unmindful of the time; the beggar inquired if he would ever be finished.  “My good man,” he murmured, “I’m sorry to have kept you so long, I’ll make amends.  The picture will take a lot of finishing but I think I have all the essentials now.  Would you care to look at what I’ve done?”  The beggar, tired and hungry, could only think of his pay and possible food and drink.  However he did take a look.  At first he could not make head or tail of what had been done – the portrait was not of a down-and-out but of a well-dressed, perfectly groomed, middle-aged man with a fine figure and a handsome face, character in every line of the strong, resolute features.

Slowly light dawned on the beggar.  The artist had painted not the man he saw but the man the beggar might have been or might become.  He kept starting at the picture, tears began to run down his cheeks.  “Sir,” said he, looking the artist in the face, “if that’s the sort of man you see in me, I reckon that’s the man I’m going to be.”  The story says that the artist gave the beggar his chance, and that the beggar took it, and made good.

The New Year is a time for resolution, especially for Christians.  Jesus could always see the best in people.  There was no such word as ‘hopeless’ within his vocabulary.  He had an optimistic regard for the ordinary people he met; he saw their inner potential as children of God.  That is how Jesus regards us.  Having Someone with that kind of faith in us, makes New Year resolutions easy to keep!

Graham Haslam

This article was originally published in the January 1973 issue of Look and has been reprinted in the January 2016 issue of Look-In, our monthly church magazine.  To download the full issue, please click here: Look-In – January 2016

“I always preach to the lectionary” a preacher told me recently. She added that if she did not want to preach to two of the lectionary passages then she ‘may as well’ preach to the third. I said nothing! However, as the service proceeded I wondered if we were hearing what she felt called to say or what she may as well’ say!

This reinforced my reservations about us following a lectionary. To many who preach it becomes an instruction and a self-imposed straightjacket rather than a suggestion. We nonconformists are not committed to a liturgy. We commit the leadership of worship to the preacher. He/she has been called to preach and is guided by God in constructing an act of worship. It is surely for the preacher to choose what Scripture we hear and not for a lectionary to  determine to what theme a service should adhere!

Many churches, including our own at Christ Church, have ‘pew bibles’. That implies that all Scripture should be read from just one version. Surely it is for the preacher to choose whatever version he/she believes most perfectly expresses what is right for any service! Many churches, again including our own, appoint members of the congregation to read. But even the most gifted of public readers can lay the emphasis in a completely different place from what the preacher would wish. What would be wrong in a preacher deciding to read him/herself?

I have had robust conversations with friends of mine who are organists in their churches. They expect to choose the hymns. I have asked them how they can choose them without knowing what the preacher’s mind is for the act of worship. They claim they can ‘tell’ from the lectionary! Even the tune for a hymn can be part of the mood music of a service and should be chosen by the preacher. Nick reminded us that he is asked why he chooses the hymns that he does. He chooses hymns that ‘belong’ with that act of worship. I once was caught by a minister looking through the hymns before a service. He said he knew I was trying to work out the likely content of his sermon. “You won’t”, he said, “I just chose the hymns I like or ones I’ve been asked for”! I said nothing but I thought plenty!!!!

To my mind, a service should have a unity. Every breath should be woven into a seamless fabric and should be uttered with total commitment. A preacher who ‘may as well’ follow the lectionary is more than likely to deliver something that is lacking in unity and devoid of passion. To those who preach I say it’s YOUR service. YOU have been called to the pulpit.  Can we imagine that Soper, Sangster, Weatherhead, Griffiths, Morris et al felt they should be governed by a lectionary or told what version of Scripture to use or what hymns to include? Then why should you? You are the dog, not the tail!

Howard Cooper

This article was first published in the November 2015 issue of Look-In, our monthly church magazine.  To download the full issue, please click here: Look-In Nov 2015

As we head out of October into November we head into a month of transition, full of dates and events that remind us of change and flow.  The weather is the first thing that we notice change.  These days October is still generally pleasant, it can feel as much like late summer as early autumn, but November can be cold and wet and feels like the start of winter.

Then there are the special days that remind us of death and change: All Saints (1st), Bonfire Night (5th), Armistice/Remembrance (11th), and for those with an American connection there is Thanksgiving (26th).  These days all teach us to value life, to treasure memories of the past, and remind us of what is important to hold on to and fight for.

Toward the end of the month faith organisations in Hillingdon have another opportunity to value, treasure and consider what is important in their own tradition and that of other people during Hillingdon Inter Faith Week (23rd-29th November).  At Christ Church we are planning to invite members of other faith communities to our church over the weekend of Friday (27th) to Sunday (29th).  It would be good if we all help to welcome any visitors who come, whether it is to the exhibition that will be up on Friday and Saturday or to worship on the Sunday.  Please look out for more details nearer the time.

Sunday 29th is also the first Sunday in Advent, the Sunday in which the cycle of the Church calendar restarts.  Advent is a season of anticipation and preparation for Christmas (oh dear, have I mentioned the ‘C’ word already?).  But what does Advent (and Christmas) mean for us?  To help us reflect on that question, this year our Advent theme will be “If Uxbridge were Bethlehem, where would Jesus be born?” As part of that we will be thinking about Jesus born a migrant, becoming a refugee and how we might respond to the current situation locally in Uxbridge and further away.

To get us started in our thinking there will be a film night on Wednesday 25th where you can watch the film ‘Whistle Down the Wind’; there will be opportunity to discuss the film the following Wednesday (2nd Dec).

And finally, as part of our Christmas preparation and church decoration this year we are holding a ‘Cardboard Christmas’.  You will be familiar with flower festivals and Christmas tree festivals where people prepare a floral decoration or decorate a Christmas tree on a particular theme.  Well, the idea of a Cardboard Christmas is similar.  Everyone is invited to take a cardboard box (any size large or small) and put in it item(s) that represent something of what the Christmas message means or says to you.  For example, you could build a nativity scene in the box, or put in it a picture of a Christmas dinner (please no actual perishable goods!), you could fill it with stars or straw (no cowpats, they would come under the banned perishable goods act).  These are just illustrations, please use your own imagination.  Completed boxes should be brought to the church by the weekend 4th-6th December so that they can be arranged in time for the parade service on 13th December.

Best wishes

Nick Skelding

This article was first published in the November 2015 issue of Look-In, our monthly church magazine.  To download the full issue, please click here: Look-In Nov 2015

I want to begin the New Year by saying thank you to everyone for the good wishes I received for the New Year.  I am sure I am not the only one who thinks that last year passed very quickly, and not just the last year, how did it get to be 2015 already?

What will this New Year hold for you?  The Christmas letters and cards Sue and I received included news of special events some of our friends are looking forward to this year: family weddings; birth of grandchildren; significant birthdays, impending retirement, for some a second retirement; moving house; new jobs; holiday plans; and in some cases the prospect that this year might be someone’s last.  A New Year brings opportunities and challenges, and the possibility that some things will remain pretty much the same and some could change for ever.

The church year, like the calendar year, has a repeating cycle.  In the calendar year the cycle is of months and seasons; in the church year the cycle is of festivals and holy days.  In the calendar month of January the church cycle includes the feast of Epiphany when we remember the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus, along with Herod’s horrific attempt to remove any threat to his own position and power by killing all the infant boys who might possibly be the child the prophets had spoken of who would be ‘King of the Jews’.  For those who are into such things January also includes the feasts of St Peter (18 January) and of the conversion of St Paul (26 January).  The time between these two feast days is now often celebrated as the Octave (usually called the week) of Prayer for Christian Unity.

As we go through the year other major and minor festivals and seasons give a rhythm to our church life – Lent and Easter; Pentecost; Harvest; Advent and Christmas.  And before we know it (scary thought) another year will have passed and we will be marking the start of 2016!

The cycle of church life helps to remind us of important aspects of our faith and reinforce their significance for our lives, and I value the rhythm the cycle provides, but I do sometimes wonder whether the cycle is counterproductive.  The rhythm reinforces repetition and in doing so implies that this year things will be pretty much the same as last year, and next year will be more or less the same as this.  There is something comforting in that rhythm.  Most people do not cope well with change; we want things to remain the same, but is that what Christian discipleship is about?

Christ invites us to follow him on a journey, a journey of faith as well as through life.  We are not invited to join him on a circular walking tour but to set out on an adventure travelling to unknown destinations.  The danger of the cycle of seasons is that we can end up in stagnation, going round in circles but never really going anywhere, never moving forward.

My prayer for myself and for you this new year is that we will resist the temptation to go round in circles; that no matter what treasures or pressures this year might bring we will have the courage to go through the cycle asking, ‘What new things might God be saying to me?’ and ‘How can I move forward with God this year rather than simply tread the same old ground again?’

I wish you all a very happy and occasionally challenging 2015.

Nick Skelding

This article was first published in the January 2015 issue of Look-In, our monthly church magazine.  To download the full issue, please click here: Look-In Jan 2015