Pray with us

In Matthew 21:8-9, we learn about Jesus entering Jerusalem as King: ‘A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”’

This passage brings back vivid memories of my childhood in Ghana when we would spend days in the run up to Easter preparing our palm fronds at school and Sunday school, in joyful anticipation of the Palm Sunday processions which would take place in the streets around our churches.

Just like on that first Palm Sunday, we would sing and shout like the children in the temple courts where Jesus responded to the indignant chief priests in Matthew 21:16 that “from the lips of children and infants, you Lord, have called forth your praise”.

This Easter, I pray that the Lord Jesus rides triumphantly into our lives and that we, like innocent and curious infants, will praise Him and rejoice in His resurrection after His death on the cross for our sins.

Amen.

Maundy Thursday is a day that is rich in symbolism and tradition, it is the day when we celebrate Jesus’ last supper with his disciples, and the institution of the Eucharist. We also remember his betrayal by Judas, his arrest and the desertion by his closest friends and followers.

Many churches will celebrate a Eucharist this evening and in some places there will also be the washing of feet of the congregation, symbolising what Jesus himself did and also reminding us that we are called to be a Church that serves others. The word Maundy comes from the Latin mandatum or commandment, and on this day we remember Jesus’ new commandment to love one another, just as he has loved us.

Jesus’ act of washing feet, a task typically reserved for slaves, shows a far more significant act than a simple show of kindness. It shows us that God embraces us despite our weaknesses and imperfections. God meets our frailty with love, and without judgement. This is a love that has the power to touch and strengthen our hearts, and calls for us to do the same. Let us ask for God’s grace to respond to Jesus’ command and love one another.

God of love, as we remember the events of this powerful night, open our eyes to see the beauty of Jesus’ self-giving love, and by your Spirit work in our heart’s a desire and commitment to serve each other and our hurting world.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I was baptised during Holy Week. On Good Friday our group was invited to meet together at the foot of the cross and pray. As the darkness of the cross hung over us, I felt reborn into a church family built on faith, love, and acceptance.

Years later, as I reflect on Good Friday, I’m reminded of John’s gospel when Jesus’ followers stand firm at the foot of the cross, so close that Jesus can speak to them: “When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman behold your Son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.” (John, 19:26-27).

From the cross, Jesus gathers together a new family bound by love and faith. We can see this new family symbolised in Jesus’ words and as the beloved disciple takes Jesus’ mother ‘to his own home’. And we can feel this new family surrounding us when we gather together at church.

This Good Friday, I pray that we continue to stand firm in faith, together, like the followers at the foot of the cross in John’s gospel. Even in times of darkness, may our eyes be inspired with a divine light, that we may see Christ in each other and love as He did.

Holy Saturday – the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday - is a day of waiting, of vigil.

The disciples didn’t know what was going to happen, but they had Jesus’s promises.

“The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but three days later he will rise from the dead.” ( Mark 9:31)

On Holy Saturday many churches hold silent vigils to reflect on the story of redemption, to wait, to hope, to prepare.

This year I will be thinking about those waiting - for someone to come out of hospital, someone to come out of prison, or those who are watching, and waiting, with those who are dying.

Heavenly Father, be near those who are waiting and watching, hoping and praying, weeping and grieving.

May we be able to wait with them, hope with them, weep with them; and also to rejoice and be thankful, in the fulfilment of the promise of your Son, to be with us always, to the end of time.

Amen.

Peter and John had the ability to run away. Mary did not. She was left, paralyzed in fear, alone in a place of death, a graveyard.

Her intentions were kind. On the first day of the week, she had arrived to anoint the body of Jesus that she had witnessed being brutally murdered and buried. She had no thought of the stone that needed to be moved, such was her confusion. She was engulfed in grief.

Now, face to face with an empty tomb, she freezes in danger. She concludes that the body had been stolen. Was she being watched? Was she next?

A man appears.

In a panic Mary blurts out, asking if he had taken this body.

‘Mary’ comes his soft voice.

Her fear turns to joy. Mary’s eyes well with tears. She is unable to control herself. She flings forward to cuddle this man who is love. It is Jesus.

Jesus met Mary in her greatest fear. This encounter, and millions since, reveal God’s unconditional love, the defeating of death, and the reforming of humanity; loved, forgiven and in peace. All that Jesus had said was truth, and Mary became the first to tell the world.

Over Holy Week, we journeyed through the cheering crowds on Palm Sunday; the betrayal, arrest and denial of Maundy Thursday; the trial, scourging and crucifixion of Good Friday and the emptiness and waiting of Holy Saturday. And now, we arrive at Easter. The emotion, despair and grief of the past few days can be seen on the face of Mary Magdalene as John’s Gospel records her weeping outside the tomb on that Easter morning, finding that the tomb was empty and presumably the body of Jesus had been stolen.

This despair and grief was still etched into the hearts of the disciples when Jesus returned to them. They had barely had chance to get to grips with what had happened on Good Friday, when Jesus was crucified, seemingly taking away all of their hopes for the future, and now everything had changed again.

It is through these tears that Mary encounters the Risen Jesus. It is through these tears that Mary sees the new life and hope that Jesus offers.

The Resurrection of Jesus offers us joy and hope.

When we look at the world around us, with warfare, poverty, loneliness, grief and hurt – we may find our faces wet with tears, and yet Jesus calls each one of us by name this Easter and encourages us to look at him, and find in him hope and joy; and that in him and the promise of the Resurrection we will have the promise of the hope of heaven, where every tear will be wiped away (Revelation 21:4).

God of glory,

by the raising of your Son

you have broken the chains of death and hell:

fill your Church with faith and hope;

for a new day has dawned

and the way to life stands open

in our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Last week many of us will have participated in local elections, visiting a polling station or submitting a postal vote to elect local officials. Those elected will have an important role in working with local people to improve community wellbeing and provide better services for all.

On Ascension day Christians recall how Jesus, after promising the gift of the Holy Spirit, ascended to heaven in a cloud. Later, in the book of Revelation, Jesus is depicted as ruling from the throne of heaven over all the kingdoms of the earth. His kingdom is a place where everyone experiences fullness of life: ‘he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ Rev 7:17

In the midst of political change, increasing challenges for our communities and escalating conflict around the world we long for the values of God’s kingdom to be reflected in the decisions and actions of those in power.

Today we pray for our earthly rulers and leaders

Lord God, we pray for all in positions of power and leadership.

Give then the wisdom and courage to make decisions that build a society that better reflects your kingdom values of compassion, justice and peace.

And may we, with them, work towards a society without poverty and inequality, where everyone is treated with dignity and has the resources to thrive and participate.

Amen

Over the years helping out with kids work at Church Pentecost has been one of my favourite Sundays. There is something about making fire crowns with gold card, glitter, tissue paper and glue and running around fuelled by biscuits and squash that brings real fun to those mornings.

“Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.” (Acts 2:2-3)

The arrival of the Holy Spirit is dramatic, noticeable and quite literally uncontainable (all attributes that the kids quite like). As we read on the disciples are drawn outside, a crowd gathers in bewilderment as they hear their own languages being spoken.

In the immediacy after receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, given by God as the Advocate and Comforter for us on Earth (John 14:26), there is opportunity to connect with others. A crowd gathers, different languages are spoken and questions are asked.

God does not create us to be in isolation. Community is central to his work and environments where people find belonging during good and bad times.

As we celebrate Pentecost this year and thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit I pray that we are mindful of opportunities to connect. That we have the confidence to act on prompts to speak with family, neighbours, friends and people down the shops.

In our world where we can see increasing division and polarisation may we have the courage and confidence to reach out.