Dear Friends
Meaning in the world seems to be becoming something which is found within each person: “What does this mean to you?” As if I might find in an object, a person, a situation, a relationship a meaning which another person does not: one man’s rubbish can apparently be another’s treasure. Beauty, truly has come to be along with meaning, in the eye of the beholder.
This secularist and secularising mentality is all around but falls down when faced with relics. The Crown Jewels, Wembley Stadium, the Mona Lisa, Stonehenge, or the Magna Carta, the Theory of Gravity, the works of Shakespeare — all may have a meaning to me, but their primary meaning is what they are, not what I think about them. A relic shows that an object has in itself meaning and beauty, worth and value: not merely what I ascribe to it but truth and dignity.
And the greatest relic in all Creation is each human being.
Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’
Genesis 1:26–28
So God created man in his own image; in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’
And we hear this passage so often we forget the truly profound message: God is creating relics of himself in each and every human being. And this is so important it needs to be said three times in just two verses, “(1) Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness … (2) So God created man in his own image; (3) in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
You and I, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, have value, have meaning, not primarily by what we ascribe to ourselves but by the reality that God has placed his image within—we have dignity and worth not by our own reckoning but by an objective reality given from God.
But this has a corollary, a consequence, every human being we meet also this same nobleness, this same virtue: they all bear the image of God—for even the most repulsive and unrighteous human being Christ died, rose and invites to new Life. And we are called to love them, which is to say, to bear their burdens and invite them to Life in Christ.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, our world seems to want to ignore objective reality and focus only on “meaning as I think.” But we do not need to fall into the same trap, we can see in all human beings in need of the Saviour, in need of Life, and can invite them all to lay aside all the cares of this life that they—and we!—may receive the King of All. We all have dignity and worth, beauty and meaning, and through Christ we are called to bring this reality to as many as would believe in his name.
Come and see!
Thank you to everyone who made the Feast of the Twelve Apostles such a joyous event. Thank you to those who prayed, who cooked, who sang, who served, who tidied, who cleaned, who discussed, who gave ideas and listened to responses, who laughed, who encouraged, who entertained.
It was a great joy to have Sayidna Silouan with us for the feast and we are greatful for his guidance, his leadership and his blessings. Many years, Master!
We serve a meal following the Liturgy on Sundays. All are welcome.
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Sermon
[ Sermon from our Father in Christ, Metropolitan Silouan, for our feast. ]
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
I am very happy to be among you today. Why? Because this is the feast of the Twelve Apostles. These are the patron saints of this parish and this is a big feast for us. We have to learn from the Apostles, from All the Saints, because they are human and they have come to this earth and have done something to gain Heaven, to gain salvation. So we learn from them, but what do we learn from the Twelve Apostles? There a lot of things in my mind but I will say two things only.
The first thing is when Jesus called them “Come, follow me,” they left everything and went with him. And they stayed with him until he ascended into the Heavens. Hearing him, eating with him, acting as disciples, as his students, this is very important for us to learn too. This is the first thing I want to tell you.
Everyone is invited for us all to follow Jesus: do you want or not? This is your decision not mine. We have to tell you that the salvation without Jesus Christ is difficult and you cannot gain it. But with him you can gain salvation. So, do you want to follow him? It’s up to you! But please, consider your salvation: if you follow him salvation is very nearby you.
…
Read this Sermon, Your decision.
Archive of Past Sermons.
Services this week
Friday 5th July
Discussion on the Gospel of Matthew, 8 pm.
Online only
Saturday 6th July
Great Vespers, 6.30 pm.
At 3rd URC Scout Hall, Chandlers Ford
Sunday 7th July
Matins and Divine Liturgy, 9 am.
At 3rd URC Scout Hall, Chandlers Ford
Online session is via Google Meet: please get in contact for the details.
Please join us: all are welcome, come and see.
Attending Church
We meet at 3rd URC Scout HQ, Kings Rd, Chandlers Ford SO53 2EY. The Scout hall is behind and to the left of the URC Church. Come and See.
Can I help you?
I am here for you, you need only ask. Is there a way I can support your life of faith? Get in touch.
Can you help the parish?
Yes, absolutely. Offer yourselves to the Lord: pray! Make available to him all your talents and ask him how he would like you to use them — listen for his reply.
Your prayers!
With love in Christ
Fr Alexander
[email protected]