Dear Friends
The Bible is of great importance to the Church but it is not the full revelation of God to mankind, rather the revelation is Christ appearing and standing among his people: in the Garden, (Genesis 2:8–3:24) with Abraham under the oak of Mamre, (Genesis 18:1–15) in wrestling Jacob, (Genesis 32:24–32) from the Burning Bush, (Exodus 3:1–4:17) in the Pillar of Cloud and of Fire, (Exodus 13:21–22) to the Prophet Samuel (First Kingdoms 3:1–14 ʟxx) the Prophet Isaiah, (Isaiah 6:1) the Prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:2) and a multitude of other occasions Christ appeared to us. Christ, the Word of God, the only-begotten Son—Light of Light, very God of very God—has come to us.
And now, in these latter days, he has fully revealed himself to us by taking on humanity that in his flesh he might reveal to us the Father, reconcile us to God and bring us to eternal Life.
Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, ‘Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ This is desert.
So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship,
was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet.
— Acts 8:26–28
And many, too, have looked at the Bible and give it a place of honour and authority. But the Ethiopian Eunuch realises something which many do not.
Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go near and overtake this chariot.’
So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’
And he said, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.
— verses 29–31
Scripture is, then, the word of God yet Christ is the Word of God. And as a person, as the God-man, Christ is communicated to us through relationship, through people, through his Church: we need the Church to bring us to Christ, as Philip brought the Ethiopian Eunuch, because the text cannot bring us all the way. And once brought to Christ, we may be incorporated into him.
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.
Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptised?’
Then Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’
And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’
So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptised him.
— verses 35–38
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, to describe our community each of these weekly emails contains the words,
preaching the saving death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and inviting all to come to greater knowledge of the Father through Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.
That by the word of God, by Scripture, we may preach the Word of God and that his victory of death, sin and idolatry may be revealed through us. Let us each offer all we have—our time, our talents, our money and our energy—to his Church that through her we may become more truly his and inherit eternal Life.
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Sermon
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God, Amen.
I stand before God in confession and I say my sins in the presence of another. It is hard, it is challenging, but it demonstrates that I have, at least in part, contrition. I stand before God and he pours out his mercy upon me: I am healed and freed from the sin which held me captive. God has renewed in me the new Life which I have received in baptism. I walk out a changed man. And then someone hurts me, looks at me the wrong way or offends me and I am full of anger.
“As you wish that men would do to you,” says the Lord, “do so to them.” For indeed we could also say, “As you wish that God would do to you, do so to your neighbour.” For in the scariest words in Scripture, perhaps because we are familiar with them we may well overlook their full meaning, the Lord commands us to pray,
“And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
— Matthew 6:12
“As much as I am willing to forgive others,” the Lord is telling us, “to the same measure the Lord will forgive me.” And so Christ commands us to love to a higher degree,
“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.”
…
Read this Sermon, As you would wish men to do to you.
Archive of Past Sermons.
Services this week
Friday 4th October
Discussion on the Gospel of Matthew, 8 pm.
Online only
Saturday 5th October
Great Vespers, 6.30 pm.
At 3rd URC Scout Hall, Chandlers Ford
Sunday 6th October
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]