Some Gifts Are Perfectly Timed ...

Jesus appeared to His disciples 

by the Sea of Galilee

'Wherefore I pray and beseech you, 

as many as are here present, 

to accompany me with a pure heart, 

and humble voice, 

unto the throne of the heavenly grace...'

Some Gifts Are Perfectly Timed ...

The watercolour above was an unexpected gift. 

The artist, is a parishioner*, and has the lovely habit of the right word at the right time. 

And sometimes the right picture too.

It came by post, during the days set apart. 

Whether rightly or not, I had anxiously opened it outside, disposed of the envelope, and set about reading the words inside. 

It was several days before I lifted it again, looked more carefully, and realised that it was an original water-colouring, that there was a little ichthus* painted on the side of His boat, and the whole 

scene was referring me to Galilee.

Of course I was delighted by the card, 

and the sentiments enclosed. 

But this was up another notch. 

Someone who had bothered to send a painting, 

but more importantly, to refer me to Jesus.

The right gift is never about cost. Usually, the one that hits the spot, is something that speaks to your heart. It might be the person who knows what is your favourite chocolate bar and remembers to buy it, the someone who remembers your favourite flowers on a special day, or the unexpected phone call on an anniversary when you're feeling alone. 

The right gift is usually the right thought and the right action. 

Taking the time, to write, to post, 

to phone to say Thank you.

During these days set apart our Bishop encouraged us to maintain a routine. And I have tried. 

I have learned to value the routine of going to St John's on a Wednesday and a Sunday morning, putting on the bell to toll, and getting on with the work of saying my prayers. 

Each Wednesday we remember to pray for those who are unwell. 

On Sundays I remember before God all who would usually be present with me. In the words of the Book Of Common Prayer, the minister says,  

'Wherefore I pray and beseech you, as many as are here present, to accompany me with a pure heart, and humble voice, unto the throne of the heavenly grace...' p85

Sadly I am reminded each week that no one else is present. 

Yes, I know that we gather in spirit, but there are days when there is no hiding from the fact that on St Patrick's Day a email was sent asking clergy to close the parish churches and buildings until further notice. 

I still make pastoral calls by phone. 

I video-call into meetings. 

I write and send cards with a verse from scripture in order to send encouragement. We record our services and send information about the ministries which are still carrying on their work, albeit apart from one another. 

Yet, on some days, the gift which is perfectly 

timed has no great cost. It is often the word of encouragement that comes by card, 

by phone of by text; 

the parishioner who phoned last week to ask how 

I was keeping, someone who sent a thank you card for ministry which took place just before the interruption, the lady who posted me the wool 

I wanted for a project. 

Thank you. 

And the gifts perfectly timed are offered with the same good will and kindness of heart in which I hope our are offered in return. 

It is a great joy and a pleasure to record worship each week, to write sermon-blogs ( is that even a word?), and to find ways to communicate. 

The greatest gift we have, freely given, is the presence of the Lord Jesus;

He is with us, at home or in the work place, as we go on about our lives in these days. Our first brothers and sisters were down at heart in the days after Good Friday. But St John records for us how he came to them at Galilee. 

He ate with them, encouraged them to fish again, and sent them out once more to get on with the work which we too are called to do.

Take the time this week to be a gift perfectly timed. 

Speak His words of love and grace into the lives of those near to you.

As St Paul reminded the early Christians, 

'It is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.' Ephesians 3:8

In Jesus, 

Precentor Hanlon.

Easter 3

* Beverley Weir. 

** ICHTHUS is from Greek meaning ‘fish’. 

It was used as an early symbol of Christianity. 

The initial letters of each word are formed form 

I esous 

Ch ristos

Th eou 

U ios 

S oter 

(Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour)