Advent 4 - December 21st
"Will you?"
We think about Mary - the way she is portrayed by cards, carols and nativity plays . . . and what we really learn about her from the Gospels.
The Bible passage for this Sunday is Mary's song - The Magnificat - words that are powerful, radical, revolutionary. What challenges you and what encourages you in this passage?
With Mary, we remember other women from history who have changed the world for the better by their willingness to commit themselves wholeheartedly to the cause
Advent 3 - December 14th
"Preparing the way"
John 1 tells of John the Baptist's role as prophet and witness.
Who are today's prophets?
What does it mean to be a witness?
What are the things that need clearing away i.e. the things that prevent folk coming close to Jesus?
I wonder how can we make the way smoother for others to encounter Jesus?
Advent 2 - December 7th
"What's happened to Christmas?"
What are the traditions that have become associated with Christmas?
How important is Christmas as a Christian festival anyway?
If it's important, how can we re-claim it?
The earliest of the Gospels, Mark makes no reference to the birth of Jesus at all -
I wonder why that might be?
What do we learn from the way that Mark does begin his Gospel?
Advent Sunday November 30th
Sunday 23rd November
"Stir Up Sunday"
What are the issues that you get stirred up about?
Do you get stirred up about the right things?
This Sunday is also Youth Sunday, the end of anti-Bullying week and the Sunday on which we particularly remember Women who are victims of Domestic Abuse
Sunday 16th November
"If you want to walk on water, you first have to get out of the boat"
Thinking about leaving our comfort zones . . .
Sunday 9th November
Why do we need to remember the past?
What do we learn from our remembering?
Sundays 26th Oct & 2nd Nov
Two weeks to celebrate baptism and remember our own.
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us -
that we should be called children of God -
And that is what we are!" (1 John 3 : 1)
Sundays 12th & 19th Oct
Ruth and Naomi - A story for the Harvest season
A couple of weeks to work through the book of Ruth.
The story, told in 4 chapters contains many themes with which we can identify - the first chapter of the story includes the negative themes of being away from home, coping with tragedy, feeling in despair at the injustice of life.
We are also reminded of the value of loyal friendships, companions who are there for us.
Chapter 2 and Enter Boaz - everything anyone would want in a man!! - Generous, kindhearted, hardworking, giving, caring and much much more . . . as we'll discover in chapter 3!
Chapter 3 tells the results of Naomi's matchmaking - Ruth goes to Boaz at night and wastes no time in proposing to him! After sorting through a few legalities, Boaz and Ruth are married and the townspeople pray God's blessing on their lives.
The book ends with the birth of Obed, son of Ruth and Boaz, grandson to Naomi. This family line eventually leads to King David, and on to Jesus. So it is that Ruth, a foreigner becomes a vital participant in bringing God's promises to fulfilment. The story shows again God at work in the events of human life, and bringing good out of tragedy and disaster.
Sunday 5th October
Harvest festival
God, Marmalade and Marmelade!
As well as being a time of celebration and thanksgiving, harvest especially calls us to remember our responsibility to work for a world of justice and righteousness.
Our focus this year is on Haiti, identified as one of the poorest countries in the world. On the brink of harvest, Haiti suffered 4 hurricanes, washing away crops and destroying livestock.
There are historical links between Guernsey and Haiti, with many missionaries leaving Channel Island shores to share the message of the Gospel with the people of Haiti.
Incredibly, for Forest United, known for God and Marmalade, we've also discovered a place in Haiti called Marmelade!