Words from Bede Circuit
Dear Friends
As a minister within the life of the church we get to see the real highs and lows of people’s lives. The highs as people have a day of celebration and are married, the lows as people grieve the loss of a loved one or are anxiously trying to make sense of where God is as they receive bad news.
Just in the last week, I have had a conversation about life, faith, death and how God plays into all of that. This was an odd conversation for the setting that we were in, as we sat surrounded by baby toys, on soft play mats with a general hub bub of noise that offered a background accompaniment.
Yet, that conversation was strange, because time seemed to stand still and as we shared together. It stood still, because we had time to give to each other, and we were able to discuss some deeply theological things. Even though I suspect the lady in question (a young mum) would not see herself as a particularly theological person.
Yet during the organised chaos and fun going on around us, babies crawling around, in the midst of the train being peddled perilously close to my fingers, we were discussing God, and Gods deep love for each of us, and how this is experienced and reflected in life’s biggest moments.
After this conversation, which was about 25 Minutes long, I have been left reflecting on how, what and where we encounter God. It is often in the places that we least expect to find God that we experience God in new and surprising ways. I have told you previously in these letters of my experience of meeting God in other people at the queue in the supermarket or in those who work there.
I want to encourage you this week to see where you meet with God. Supermarket, garage forecourt, at work, with family or friends, at the local café, as you serve God, and then give thanks for that encounter.
I pray that God will change us by our encounter with our amazing God. May we always be looking to find the one who knows us better than we know ourselves.
Psalm 139 v 1-14 You have searched me, Lord, and you know me . You know when I sit and when I rise. you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down. You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being you knit me together in my mother’s womb praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Circuit morning prayers continue on Wednesday mornings on Zoom at 10.00am.
Every blessing,
Rev Matt Sheard on behalf of the Bede Circuit Staff Team