Dear Friends
Why are there not more people in society who think and state Christianity is ridiculous? Because it is. The Church calls on her faithful to turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, give without expecting in return. And further, the Church states that a man died and rose from the dead. Many in society are willing to concede that Jesus existed, that He taught throughout Galilee and Judea, that He was crucified; but risen? Not just resuscitated but resurrected? That is a fool’s belief, a hopeless cause, a pitiable faith. Christianity is indeed ridiculous and would be worthy of mockery except for one reason: it’s True. Not true in the sense of “it’s what I think happened,” nor “it’s true to me,” but True. All of it.
And for those who are not Christians, in as much as they think about the Church, the logical position would be to pity us and to demonstrate our stupidity. To respect the beliefs of Christians, if someone is not a believer, is to respect the unrespectable: we might hope—perhaps a fool’s hope!—they might respect us, but our beliefs are beyond the pale.
For the Word of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
— First Corinthians 1:18
From the beginning the Church has known the Gospel to be ridiculous—in the word’s of Scripture, “foolishness”—because the Gospel is the exact opposite of what we would assume. We would expect a religion to promise gifts and blessings, to bring wealth and comfort, to lead to good crops, victory in war, fertility, virility, power.
but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness.
— verse 23
We preach a Cross, we preach service, we preach sacrifice. And this should scandalise, this should run against all the world has to offer, this should scare off the world and its desire for control.
But something strange seems to be happening in society. While society is still aghast at the Gospel there are some—perhaps small in number—who have seen the futility of life according to the standards of this world. They work, they have friends, they have families, but there is something missing. They are, in a figurative sense, living in a foreign land and dwelling with the pigs.
But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!’
— Luke 15:17
They have tried the life of the world and have found it wanting, and something at the back of their minds niggles at them, gnaws at them, tells them that life does not have to be like this, they are on the brink of “coming to themselves,” of remembering the Father’s House, of their inherent dignity and worth—they are not cogs in the machine but created in the Image of their Maker.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the Gospel is hard, is challenging, is difficult, yet when the world ridicules us we should not be surprised because the Way of Christ is the Way which requires us to humble ourselves. Let us rejoice, though, let us have hope, since the Church has preserved for us, with neither addition nor subtraction, (Deuteronomy 4:2, 12:32, Revelation 22:18–19) the Truth of the Resurrection through the preaching of the Apostles, the witness of the Martyrs, the teaching of the Fathers, the prayer of the Saints, which is not only a treasure for us but the longed for desire of many in our society. Let us preserve this Faith which is of infinite value and bring all the more in that they may receive the blessings of God: for the Promise is given to as many as believe in his Name.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom.’
— Matthew 16:24–28
The Gospel of Christ, the path to Truth, the Way to Life.
Come and see!
House blessings
I would be honoured to come and bless your home. We accept that sin has power but we bless our homes so that it no longer has power over us and where we live so that we are alive in Christ.
Please speak to me to arrange a convenient time for me to come.
If your home has never been blessed it needs blessing!
If there has been any sin in your home since it was last blessed it needs blessing!
Catechism & Catechumens
There are several members of our community who have expressed an interest in fully joining the Church, either through Baptism or Chrismation depending on circumstances.
I want you to, I think everyone should be a full member of the Church, but I am also keen not to put pressure on anyone. If you want to join you need to ask.
For me there are two key requirements.
- You are a member of our community. You participate in services as well as the rest of the life of the community.
- You understand The Symbol of Faith (also called the Creed) in the way the Church understands it. Alongside this, you will understand about the Orthodox Church, her history and traditions.
To help with 2., on Saturdays, after Vespers I will start to go through the Symbol of Faith. This will only last up until 7.40 pm (Vespers usually ends around 7.10–7.15 pm).
If you are interested in joining the Church (though there’s no commitment) or are already a member but would like to know more about our Faith, you’d be most welcome to join us.
If you’d like to join the Church, but can’t make it on Saturday evenings, then please speak to me and we can make alternative arrangements for you.
[For those who would like to come to Confession on Saturdays while this programme is happening, Confessions can happen from 7.40 pm: apologies for any inconvenience.]
We serve a meal following the Liturgy on Sundays. All are welcome.
Do you, or someone you know, want to join our mailing list and receive our weekly email? Then let me know.
Sermon
| In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God, Amen. I stand afar off from God. I suppose He abhors me, thinks me unclean and unworthy of Him. I stand afar off from God and call out to Him, but do not really want to hear His response, to be close to Him, to be changed by Him. I stand afar off from God, in reality, because I am too scared to come close to Him, because I want to remain in my current state, because I do not truly want to repent. “Jesus, Master,” I cry out from a distance, “have mercy on me.” But this is a cry of one who on the Last Day will stand before the Judge and say, “Lord, I asked for your help but You did not give it to me.” This is an excuse, a self-justification, not a true prayer to the Creator of my being. But despite me, despite the distance I maintain between God and me, despite my unworthiness, Christ does reply to me, “Go and show yourself to the priests.” He does not call on me to perform some great ascetic feat, to stand in prayer until I see the Uncreated Light, to memorise the Bible, to perform a great miracle nor to preach the Gospel that ten thousand join the Church, rather He tells me, “Go and show yourself to the priests.” And I could go. I could go and show myself to the priests by being present in the Church, by making the sign of the Cross, by kissing an icon, by feeding just one person, by reading just one verse of Scripture. And even in these tiny steps, I am cleansed, I am washed, I am made whole. God has placed me in a state where I can draw near to Him, to be more fully changed by Him, to be transformed and transfigured by Him. I have no excuses left. I had cried out to Him as a backup for the Last Day but He has called my bluff. … |
Read this Sermon, Afar off from God.
Archive of Past Sermons.
Services this week
Friday 24th January
Discussion on the Prophecy of Isaiah, 8 pm
Online only
Saturday 25th January
Great Vespers, 6.30 pm
At 3rd URC Scout Hall, Chandlers Ford
Sunday 26th January
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]