St John's and Kiltermon

I Believe In the Holy Spirit. One of the good outcomes of the present time, is learning again to appreciate those you cannot easily see. It’s great to use blogs and messenger, video links, Zoom, and I’ve even learned the phrase ‘Webinar’? Whatever it means. But, even with great access to digital technology, it’s not the same as actually being with someone. I can look at endless pictures of the beach, I have even listened to the restful sounds of the tide's ebb and flow kindly recorded on Lindisfarne Holy island, but its still not the same as actually going, and getting my feet wet. Likewise, your photo, your handwriting, your voice on the phone is great, but I imagine we would all prefer to meet those we care for, in person. Meeting up with. Sitting with.  Chatting with. Sitting quietly with. Ruminating with. In the days before I married, someone wise told me that one of the best things ahead was knowing that someone else was there, with you. And it’s very...

Postponed Until Further Notice ‘Waiting Can Be Endlessly Frustrating.’ I listened to myself say these very words, on Thursday’s Ascension Day service recording. And yes, it can. Today has been one of those days. I found myself bristling on the telephone when someone innocently enough asked if I had been having a good long break! And this only days after writing and speaking about Graced Waiting. Yes, there are days when I appreciate the sunshine, seeing birds in the garden, photographs of beautiful things in God’s creation,  the extra time at home with family, which otherwise we would not have. And then there are other days, which for whatever reason, are deeply frustrating. I get that sense that many of us waver between days when we are more able to accept the restrictions, and other days which for whatever reason,  we rail and complain. Today, it was in seeing the increasingly emptying pages of a diary. Until now, bookings and plans...

Graced Waiting Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid.  Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee;  there they will see me." St Matthew 28:10 Somewhere tucked away in a shoe box of old family photos, there is one of a small boy, digging space for new plants in the garden.   His dad is there, giving enough space for learning and independence, watching as a new gardening generation emerges. The memory of it comes back to me every year when I see the rows of seeds for sale in the garden centre. I scan along, looking for old favourites such as pom pom dahlias, poppy seeds of any kind, and always, always,  rust coloured French Marigolds. This year was no different, except I had to order online. The marigold seeds are a long cream and black husk, always bunched up until they are shaken into the hand; and I recall a great uncle‘s open palm showing me how to lift seeds out into the soil, one by one, without losing any. And then t...

St John 7 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. Today as a church we are beginning a new teaching series on the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit. I’ve no idea how many will engage or listen, how many might grow and progress in their Christian lives. Physically seeing people is what we’ve been used to. We could count how many came to services on Sunday Mornings at Kiltermon or St John’s, or evenings at Breathe or the New Life evenings with our local christian brothers and sisters. Today, it’s very different. At most, I see Likes on Facebook, numbers of Views, and the total who have looked at the sermon Bl...

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BREATHE Quiet Time with St John's and Kiltermon 11am  Saturday 16 May 2020 Easter 5   Jesus Heals at the Pool of Bethesda Words and prayer of welcome Settling In and Noticing How are you as you meet this morning? Softly And Tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and for me See on the portal He's waiting and watching Watching for you and for me   Come home Come home He who are weary Come home Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling Calling "Oh sinner, come home"   Why should we tarry When Jesus is pleading Pleading for you and for me Why should we linger and heed not His mercies Mercies for you and for me   Time is now fleeting While moments are passing Passing from you and from me Shadows are gathering Deathbeds are calling   St John 5 The Healing At The Pool Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish fe...