We (Lee and Liz) have made steady progress in unpacking the many hundreds of boxes in our new home at Curbar in Derbyshire. We arrived in rain which soon turned to sleet and then hail – it was white all over by the time the removal men left. But then the sun shone as we unpacked! It revealed a very beautiful part of God’s kingdom with Curbar Edge as a magnificent backdrop to the house (but it’s not quite yet as beautiful as God’s own county of Yorkshire). The name of the area in which we live offers us great encouragement though – it is called the Hope Valley!
We have been overwhelmed with your many messages, cards and gifts since we arrived here and thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Your support and prayer has been invaluable. The messages and prayers have made the transition much easier but we are still missing our friends in Ilkley so much. Please do keep in touch, as we will with you – it means an awful lot.
Lee starts his now job as Diocesan Church Growth Officer on the 30th April and would particularly value your prayers to do this in God’s strength. Initially Lee will be going round the southern part of the diocese getting to know the clergy and finding out what growth strategies they already have in place and what growth strategies they need support with.
Liz would value your prayers in securing a new job as quickly as possible.
Megan continues to live in Ilkley during the week (many thanks to her very kind host as well as the many others who offered to put her up). She will probably be home with us at weekends.
As we have been praying for you over the past few days we have continued to gain a sense that God’s vision for growth for All Saints’ will come to fruition. God is graceful and what He promises He will always come good on. Hallelujah.
We will always welcome anyone who is in the area so do please come visit. You can still follow Lee’s blog and also his Twitter too if you like.
This week is very exciting as we prepare for Good Friday and Easter Day.
Please do come along to as many of the services as you can:-
Maundy Thursday
7.30pm Holy Communion with footwashing ceremony (several pre-prepared people will have their feet washed symbolically) – all welcome
Good Friday
10.45am Hot Cross Bun service – great for all ages (1/2 hour service) – all welcome
12 noon Churches Together Walk of Witness – meet outside our church – all welcome
2.00pm Last Hour at the Cross – meditative with hymns – all welcome
Easter Day
8.00am Traditional quiet communion – all welcome
9.15am Traditional communion with hymns – all welcome
10.45am Easter Celebration & communion. Worship band, kids groups and bouncy castle and egg hunt afterwards for kids – all welcome
6.30pm Songs of Praise (traditional hymns) – all welcome
Hope you are able to be at some of these services.
I’m looking forward to preaching at the services on easter day which will be my penultimate service. My last one being a joint 10am service on the 15th April.
Really looking forward to worshipping with you this weekend.
A friend of mine got confused yesterday and started panic buying pasties……
Isn’t it just mildly ridiculous the way politicians (of all parties) seize upon the smallest opportunities to try and gain favour? Both the PM and the leader of the opposition, both of whom are more used to ordering fois gras at the Ivy, try to suggest to us that they are down with the people. Cameron clearly ‘forgot’ that he never actually had a cornish pastie at a none existent food outlet at Leeds station and Milliband looking so uncomfortable as he walked into a Greggs to order sausage rolls. Ridiculous!
Substance over spin is what’s required right now.
As we approach Holy Week and Easter we see substance in abundance.
No need for spin or hyperbole as we consider the events of this coming week. Jesus goes to the cross for our redemption. Simple. Jesus rises again to show us our eternity. Simple. Jesus declares that there is no other way. Simple. John 14: 6 shares the message of hope for those who put their trust in the crucified and resurrected Lord Jesus “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me”
Hallelujah!
This Sunday is Palm Sunday and I’m really looking forward to preaching on Mark 11: 1-9 at the services.
See you in church.
Every blessing
Lee
The Reverend Lee Townend MA
All Saints’, Ilkley
Weddings Project www.Ilkleypc.co.uk
Twitter: @Leethevicar
01943 430693
I’m in the process of putting together my report for the Annual General Meeting (which I won’t be at because, sadly, I will have moved by then to Derby Diocese). This is some of what I’ve put together so far.
Looking back on the last year we have made good progress as we usher in the fulfilment of the vision God has given to our church.
We have seen the start of many new movements of the Spirit including the multi church venture of 24/7 prayer, the final year of our worship leaders on the Worship Academy training course, the progression of our church development to its final stage of planning, the welcoming of The Sanctuary project, a significant church weekend away, a gift day that raised £50,000 in a single day, the appointment of our excellent youth and children’s workers and so much more.
Our curates and preachers continue to offer first rate biblical teaching and we are blessed by so many able people who are listening to God and exercising the gifts He has given them. People are beginning to exercise spiritual gifts.
We are blessed indeed.
The scriptures say this “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.” Habakkuk 2: 2
The vision God has given to our church, and the vision that will continue is this: “Going for Growth through excellence in Welcome; Worship and Witness’. Our strap-line is “To see an ever increasing number of people coming into an ever deepening relationship with God”
It is a simple statement that God intends this church to grow. Every group in our church and every person who belongs to our church must ask themselves “Is everything we do helping to grow this church? Is our group welcoming to others? Do we have worship at the heart of what we do? Are we witnessing to the love of Christ?”
These should be the questions always before us as we go on into the rest of 2012.
When I was called by God to serve here He made it clear that it would only be for a short season. When I went to see Bishop David before I was appointed he told me that he wanted me to ‘challenge the church to grow’. He said this might not be easy. He said I should ‘shake things up a little’.
Many people, when I arrived, said that they felt I had been called here to break the ground and lay foundations for future growth. Thisresonated with what God was saying about only being here for a season. It resonated with what Bishop David said. It also resonated with the scripture“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” 1 Corinthians 3: 6
I hope that what I have done over the past three and a half years is what I was called to do. My job has been, along with many of you, to break the ground and lay the foundation for growth.
Your new Vicar, who I pray will encourage charismatic gifting, will lead you further on in the vision that God has given to the church. Our church is in safe hands – because it belongs to God. It is the bride of Christ. It will grow.
One sign of growth, bizarrely, could be that in the short term the church could become smaller in size. Please do not be alarmed if this happens. Many churches that go on to significant growth have to have a time of cutting back in order togrow more. Provided you stick with the vision, God will honour it. So let us rejoice.
I still have a month left with you (my last service is the 15th April at a joint 10am service) and I look forward to spending that time worshipping God together with you.
This Sunday promises to be a great time of teaching and praise and I look forward to sharing God’s word with you.
See you Sunday
Every blessing
Lee
The Reverend Lee Townend MA
All Saints’, Ilkley
Weddings Project www.Ilkleypc.co.uk
Twitter: @Leethevicar
01943 430693
Some people have been asking if it’s possible to look over the text of my sermon again from last Sunday. If you missed it here it is (along with attached slides), if you heard it on Sunday you may like to read it again and consider what action may be appropriate for you. The sermon notes are considerably shorter than the actual sermon as it misses out anecdotes and asides!
Sunday 11th March 2012
10.45am
All Saints’, Ilkley
“How to avoid regrets”
Mark 1: 9-15
“’The time has come’ said Jesus, ‘The Kingdom of God is near’” Mark 1: 15
Frank Sinatra’s song My Way stayed in the charts for 75 weeks, sold around 20 million copies, covered by over 50 different artists and is one of the top songs at funerals. The reason it’s so popular is perhaps because it resonates with how we want to be. We want to be unique, stand out from the crowd, live a life that has meaning. Do it my way. One of the lines from My Way says this “Regrets, I’ve had a few, but then again too few to mention” . Edith Piaff famously sang Je ne regret rien – I regret nothing.
For most of us though the reality is somewhat different. Many of us look back on life and often think ‘If only’.
This morning we are looking at the subject of ‘How to avoid regrets’. The scripture today offers at least two principles on ‘How to live a life without regret’.
1. Don’t delay, do it today!
“’The time has come’ said Jesus, ‘The Kingdom of God is near’” Mark 1: 15
Jesus portrays a distinct sense of urgency in this scripture.
A book has just been published by a palliative nurse entitled “The Top Five Regrets of the Dying”. Bronnie Ware nurses patients who have less than 12 weeks to live. Over the years she hasobserved the regrets that her patients have as they come to the end of their lives. Here’s the five regrets she’s witnessed most often:-
1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.
3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
What would your biggest regret be if this was the last day of your life? Don’t delay, do it today!
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” Steve Jobs
Don’t delay, do it today!
In the scriptures we read that time is of the essence. Throughout Mark’s gospel there’s a real sense of urgency. Jesus said, “The time has come…” Mark 1: 15 He’s saying that there’s some things we need to do NOW. Don’t delay, do it today!
For Jesus, and conversely for us too, one of the single most important things in His life was deliberately put right at the start of Mark’s gospel – it was the first piece of ministry we find Him doing – it is the most urgent thing He came to do – it comes before healing and any of the miracles in Mark’s Gospel – so what’s this thing that’s so urgent for Jesus to do? ’“Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God” Mark 1: 14 Sharing the Gospel is the first and most important thing Jesus chooses to do. He puts it right upthere. It makes me ask myself how urgent am I at sharing the good news? How urgent are you?
It is said that a week is a long time in politics. In football, however, a single day is a very long time! A few weeks ago Harry Redknapp woke up with the distinct possibility that he could be facing a lengthy prison sentence. By the time he went to bed he faced the distinct possibility that he could be the next England manager! Time moves quickly.
The scripture encourages a sense of urgency in life – especially when it comes to sharing your faith.
Somebody once said “Don’t count every hour in the day; make every hour in the day count.”
Many Christians fear failure so they don’t get things done. Sometimes they vacillate between one set of options and another. That procrastination means that opportunities are missed “Far better is it to dare mighty things, even though chequered by failure, than to dwell in that perpetual twilight that knows not victory or defeat.” Theodore Roosevelt
Jesus said “The time has come”.
Are there things you need to do now, even things you’re afraid of? Is there someone you need to witness to? Someone you need to tell about God? Or is it something else? Don’t delay do it today!
2. Urgency relieves emergency!
“Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1: 15
Steve Jobs, on his deathbed, as his life was ebbing away, with his family surrounding him uttered his final words. Steve Jobs last words were these ‘Wow! Wow! Wow!” Now this could mean anything but some Christians have interpreted this as a deathbed conversion and his words were uttered at the sight of Jesus. Who knows?
One thing we do know is that we cannot rely on turning to Jesus at the last moment if we want salvation. This is what Jesus said about those who think they can leave it till the last moment “A man said to himself ‘I have plenty of good things laid up for myself for many years….I will take life easy; I will eat drink and be merry’ But God said to Him, ’You fool. This very night your life will be demanded from you’” Luke 12: 19-20
We cannot rely on deathbed conversions for our friends and family (or even ourselves) – do it now. Urgency relieves emergency!
But it’s more than that. Those of us who are in a true relationship with Christ know that our faith in Christ is not just about the end times. We have a faith inside that no matter what comes our way we have an internal joy that nothing can overcome.
STETHOSCOPE YOUTUBE CLIP (if you want to watch this click here )
Jesus said “Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1: 15 Those who have find no matter what comes there way there is a Hallelujah coirus within them that nothing can diminish
I want to gently ask this morning if this is speaking to you. Perhaps you’ve been coming to church for a while but never really known that joy in your heart.Perhaps you’re not really sure whether you actually are a Christian or not. Perhaps you would really like to have that sense that God is with you?
(Invite people to come forward for prayer).
The Reverend Lee Townend MA
All Saints’, Ilkley
Weddings Project www.Ilkleypc.co.uk
Twitter: @Leethevicar
01943 430693
I wonder what you think of this statement ‘In order to go forward sometimes you have to retreat‘?
Yesterday I had the absolute privelege of spending a day’s retreat at Alnmouth Friary in Northumberland.
The journey there was swift and the weather when I arrived was just amazing. The sun was a brilliant yellow against a backdrop of a crystal clear blue sky. The Friary sits on a headland overlooking the sea and the sun’s rays were bouncing off the sea and reflecting directly on to the Friary’s chapel walls. It couldn’t have been more idyllic.
There was such a warm greeting at the door by Brother Desmond adorned in his plain brown Franciscan habit. He made me feel really at home and told me to just enjoy the space.
I knew I was in for a beautiful day.
I went into the chapel which directly overlooks the golden beach and the wide expanse of sea and sky. As I settled down I turned to the scriptures and opened the Bible in Mark. The first words that struck me were these words from Jesus “Come with me, by yourself, to a quiet place and get some rest” Mark 6: 31
Those words, it seemed to me, were spoken directly into my heart. Jesus was saying this is what a retreat is all about.
Come with me… The first purpose of a retreat is to spend time with Jesus. A retreat is not about being pampered as it would be if you went for a spa day at a country hotel. In fact a day away with Jesus gives you far more energy and renewal than a day of massages and treatments. The aim of a Christian retreat is to get into the presence of Christ. And the key thing to note is that it is Jesus who is leading you – Come with me. It’s Jesus who wants to take you away so that He can give you all that He wants to give you.
…by yourself… In order to retreat well it’s important, Jesus says, to go away on your own. Sometimes you can take a retreat with others but getting away on your own with Jesus is vital. This also relates to leaving behind the people and things that occupy your mind. Sometimes things just so occupy your mind that it’s as though they are there with you. This is not always easy. But if we have leaving them behind as an intention then Jesus can deal with it through His Spirit. One way that has helped me to leave behind the things and people that concern me is to ensure that I have at least an hours journey to get to my retreat. That way, as the train covers the miles, it gives you time to lay down everything before you go into the day. I often find that once I come back from retreat the people and things that were concerning me beforehand are all put into a new perspective as a result of the day away.
…to a quiet place… The Friary at Alnmouth is a perfect location for quiet. I’ve also found places like Scargill House or the Briery in Ilkley to be very useful too as a quiet place. They only charge a relatively small amount of money for the whole day and are quite used to people booking in for a day’s retreat. I once had a day’s retreat at a country pub where I knew that hardly anybody would be present (I drank coffee all day I hasten to add – and I didn’t tell them I was on a ‘retreat’ they just thought I was doing a lot of reading and thinking!). Equally a quiet place could be your sitting room when everyone’s gone out or even a day in the hills as long as its dedicated to being with God.
…and get some rest… Sleep. One of the things I love about a day’s retreat is the opportunity to sleep. I had a little doze in the morning and a little one after lunch. Exquisite. Sometimes I fall asleep while reading the scriptures and afterwards I think it’s the most wonderful thing to have gone to sleep with the Word of God immediately in my heart. But getting some rest is ultimately about resting in Christ. Resting in His Word. Resting in prayer. It’s amazing how refreshed you feel afterwards.
Now not all of us are in jobs where we can do this in the middle of the week but we could do it on a Saturday or even take a days holiday. If you would like to know more about organising a day retreat then do please speak to me and I’ll let you know how to go about it. A day’s retreat is a really good thing to do periodically as is to take an even longer retreat whenever possible.
Equally retreat should be part of our everyday existence. Everyday we need to find a small time, by yourself, in a quiet place and rest in the presence of God. Everyday we need to get those few minutes or half an hour with the scriptures and in prayer. This is the thing that will give life, renewal and energy as we journey forward.
I’m preaching this weekend on the subject of ‘How to avoid regrets’ and the text, if you want to read it in advance, is Mark 1: 9-15. As a way of preparing for the talk may I ask you to consider in advance what things in your life you have regretted?
Really looking forward to seeing you on Sunday.
Every blessing
Lee
The Reverend Lee Townend MA
All Saints’, Ilkley
Weddings Project www.Ilkleypc.co.uk
Twitter: @Leethevicar
01943 430693
It’s Thursday afternoon and I’ve just got back from taking Mabel out for her walk and the woods are looking fantastic.
The sun is shining through the trees and the buds are ripening nicely. Bright green shoots of new growth are everywhere. The birds are in full song.
Spring is upon us. Yes there’ll still be lots of cold days, maybe snow too, but Spring has begun.
One of the things that I’ve always loved about living in England is the changing seasons. Every February we go to visit Hodsock Priory to see their amazing snowdrop walk. As we move into March the daffodils begin to bloom in our garden (in fact some of them are already out). As the sun begins to get a little warmer we move on into May and the woods are just blanketed in the most wonderful display of bluebells. The Summer is fantastic in Yorkshire too and so is the Autumn. The winter can be a little bleak here but nonetheless it has a beauty of its own – especially as you look out to the moor with that special afternoon Winter sunlight.
Seasons are wonderful.
The churches seasons are wonderful too. Each one allows us to think of an aspect of Christ’s life more fully. Lent, the season we have just started, has that special penitential flavour that contrasts sharply with the Easter celebrations.
One thing we know about seasons, whether they are ecclesiastical or earthly, is that they change. Seasons, by the very name, do not last forever. There is something comforting about that for me. Solomon wrote this in Ecclesiastes chapter 3:-
1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
There is, Solomon says, a time for everything. As you look through that list ask yourself what time am I in right now? Is it a time of conflict as in the latter part of verse 8? Are you rejoicing as in part of verse 4? Where are you right now?
Some of this material at first glance might seem a little strange. For example why does it say there is a time to hate when Christians are called to love? The answer here is that there is indeed a time to hate – that is to hate the injustice in the world and hate wrongdoing. Hate the sin but love the sinner. Perhaps you may like to consider some of the other trickier parts of this scripture and ask yourself what does it mean?
The comfort for me from these verses and from the changing seasons is quite simple. No matter what I’m going through (pain, hardship, difficulty) these are only temporary seasons. God in His grace has made everything to have it’s moment and that’s all. There is a time to weep but that weeping will turn into joy. God is so good.
As I write I know that there is another case of books waiting to be packed. Yes, we are still a long way from moving but the process of packing has tentatively started. Moving from church to church (or in my case to a completely new role in another diocese) always brings a profound sense of sadness and loss. There is a very real sense of bereavement as we say goodbye to friends, ministry, places, work and a church we have grown to care for. But that sadness is eased by our great God who makes all things seasonal. The only thing that is eternal is Him and we who will come to Him.
So, whatever you are going through now please know that it is not forever.
On Sunday we have two very special guests with us at all the services when Jill and Liz from The Sanctuary will be joining us. They won’t be preaching (trainee reader Dawn has that honour) but they will be sharing some of the exciting and Godly work that they are involved in. It will be a great opportunity to get to know them better and to welcome them, warmly and loving, to our fellowship. Let’s make them feel really at home with us.
Really looking forward to being with you on Sunday and to sharing worship with you.
Every blessing
Lee
The Reverend Lee Townend MA
All Saints’, Ilkley
Weddings Project www.Ilkleypc.co.uk
Twitter: @Leethevicar
01943 430693
As part of the process of preparing to leave (even though it’s still two months away) I’m beginning to go through all my old papers to see what needs keeping and what needs throwing away.
One of the papers I came across was a sermon I had completely forgotten about and would like to share part of it with you. It had the title ‘Finding Royal protection’ and began with some stories of missed opportunities.
In 1962 an unknown four piece band auditioned for Decca records. Decca records heard the audition and flatly rejected them saying “We don’t like your sound, and anyway guitar music is on its way out” That band was no less than The Beatles – a real missed opportunity!
In 1995 an author wrote a manuscript which was submitted to no fewer than 12 different publishers. Every one of those 12 publishers rejected it outright. Too many books of this type on the market they said, too complicated a plot for children. That author was JK Rowling and the book; Harry Potter – a real missed opportunity!
In 1903 an inventor takes his idea to the Michigan Savings Bank looking for investment in return for shares in the company. The bank laughs in his face and turn him down flat. The invention, the motor car, the inventor Henry Ford – a real missed opportunity.
The moral of this is Carpe Deim – seize the day. Is there a decision you need to make? Do it now. Is there a person you need to talk to? Do it now. Is there an opportunity you need to take advantage of? Do it now.
In the Gospel of Luke, Jerusalem missed a real opportunity – Jesus says “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem….how often have I longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing” Luke 13: 34 A real missed opportunity for protection from the King.
Sigmund Freudsaid “I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father’s protection.” The truth is that the Father will always protect you when you go to Him, and, the will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you; “He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge.” Psalm 91:4
After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain toassess the inferno’s damage. One ranger found a dead bird literally petrified in ashes, perched on the ground at the base of a tree. Puzzled by the sight, he knocked over the dead bird with a stick. When he gently struck it, three live tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother’s wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise.
She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. She had been willing to die, so those under the cover of her wings would live.
Jesus says to you “How often have I longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings” Luke 13: 34
The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you. There’s nowhere you can go where God’s protection will not cover you. What would be the most scary thing you can think of to do for God right now? Called to preach? Share your faith with a friend? Become a missionary? Give your money away to a charity?
Psalm 27 (v1) says this to your fear “The Lord is my light and salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I beafraid?”
The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you.
There was a lot more to that sermon but I felt section was important to share today – I don’t know why but I felt it was.
Anyway, looking forward to seeing you Sunday.
Every blessing
Lee
The Reverend Lee Townend MA
All Saints’, Ilkley
Weddings Project www.Ilkleypc.co.uk
Twitter: @Leethevicar
01943 430693
A few people missed a talk I gave back in January on the subject of ‘love’. As Valentine’s is approaching, and in a rather loose connection, I thought I might share some of the things I offered in that talk here.
The most important thing I shared was this: ‘You are loved beyond measure’. The psalmist says to God “How priceless is your unfailing love; both high and low find refuge in the shadow of your wings; and feast in the abundance of your house….” Psalm 36: 7-8
Statistics tell us that almost half of all marriages in England and Wales will sadly end in divorce if current trends continue. Love, in society, can at times be conditional – ‘I love you because you because you make me happy’. It’s based on feelings and emotions that can change from one moment to the next. Love can be temporary, it can be withdrawn when something or someone better comes along. It’s based on needs being fulfilled. When the going gets tough love leaves through the door. Have you ever been let down by someone who was supposed to love you? Love can be fickle
But not so with God. You are loved beyond measure. God’s love for you is unconditional, committed, loyal and unfailing – “How priceless is your unfailing love”.
Mother Theresa said “There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.” We don’t need to be hungry for love and appreciation anymore – we’ve got it. The psalmist says that you can find refuge in the shadow of His wings; and feast in the abundance of God’s house. In Exodus 19 when God gave His eternal covenant of love He spoke of carrying you on eagles wings – the psalmist echoes this - find refuge in the shadows of his wings. In Leviticus 3 we read that the very choicest parts of an animal were sacrificed and given to God. God in turn wants to give them back to you – the psalmist says feast in the abundance of God’s house. It’s a simple analogy that says that He wants the very best for you.
He doesn’t love you because you’re lovable or because you can do anything for Him. He loves you because you’re His child – He’s made a covenant with you. He’s not going to drop you. You are loved beyond measure. In the Old Testament we read this “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart” Jeremiah 1: 5 You were loved even before you were born.
On over 500 separate occasions in the Bible you hear words of love from God to you.
“God’s love has been poured out into our hearts…..God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5: 5-8
You are loved beyond measure.
In John’s gospel the story’s told of a woman caught in adultery. That woman had done wrong and disgraced herself and her family. I guess many of us have known feelings ofdisgrace, feelings that you don’t deserve anything, that you’re not good enough. What does Jesus do for that woman? He reflects the graceful love of His Father – Jesus tells her “…I do not condemn you…” John 8: 11 (paraphrased) He reflects the love and mercy of the Father. You are loved as if there is no other.
The heart of God is not condemnation but love. You are not condemned. You are loved. You are wanted. You are needed.
This coming Sunday the readings in church will be Col 1:15-20 & John 1:1-14 and the theme is ‘God’s saving Grace’.
I’m away for a few days so I’ll see you next time in church.
With every blessing
Lee
The Reverend Lee Townend MA
All Saints’, Ilkley
Weddings Project www.Ilkleypc.co.uk
Twitter: @Leethevicar
01943 430693
Last week I went to a meeting at Lambeth Palace for the launch of Back To Church Sunday. It was a great event and Archbishop Rowan spoke eloquently on the simplicity of invitation – inviting a friend to something like church should be as natural as inviting a friend to a party!
Anyway, that’s not what I would like to talk about.
In one of the meeting rooms at Lambeth Palace there is a painting of Archbishop Laud. Underneath the painting is a glass display stand and inside the stand is a………..tortoise! Well actually it’s the shell of a tortoise. This tortoise, called Timothy, belonged to the Archbishop and lived for many years (outliving Laud and nine other Archbishops no less).
The famous fable of the tortoise and the hare proclaims the tortoise as a hero. He’s a hero not because of his speed, as we all know he’s a very slow creature, but because of his gentle perseverance and constancy – he gets there in the end and actually beats the hare who sets off at such a pace that he thinks he can take it easy.
But that’s not why I think the tortoise is a hero.
I think the tortoise is a hero because he reminds me of what I should do in my life. In order to get anywhere the tortoise has to stick its neck out. A tortoise can’t physically move without sticking its neck out.
As Christians we are called to stick our neck out for the Gospel. We are called to take risks for God. We are called to not settle for the easy life. We are called to be adventurers.
In the Bible God said this to Joshua when calling him to take a risk but he also says it to you and me as Christian believers when we step out in faith for Him: “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous…..be strong and very courageous. Do not turn from the scriptures in that way you may have success wherever you go…meditate on the scriptures day and night….then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” Joshua 1: 5-9
C. S. Lewis said “Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point”
Where do you need to stick your neck out for Jesus?
Looking forward to seeing you as we gather as church on Sunday. In preparation you might like to read the texts we will be using for the talks: Psalm 27: 4-5 Philippians 4: 10-19
Until then
Every blessing
Lee
The Reverend Lee Townend MA
All Saints’, Ilkley
Weddings Project www.Ilkleypc.co.uk
Twitter: @Leethevicar
01943 430693
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