Dear Friends
So often in life we are tempted to perform at the level of “good enough.” We do what we define as essential and leave the rest. And we want to treat the spiritual life with the same attitude. One might say, “I pray sometimes,” while another “I go to Church,” and someone else “I give money to the poor,” and each thinks “this is enough for me.”
The Apostle writes from prison, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,” which does not at all sound like the ‘good enough’ faith we desire,
with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
— Ephesians 6:1–3
For the Lord has given us gifts. Since it is not necessary to do everything but to do that to which we are called. “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,” all acting and doing what has been given to them,
for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him Who is the head—Christ—
from Whom the whole Body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the Body for the edifying of itself in love.
— verses 11–16
And therefore, no longer being children in the Faith but mature, we work together for the sake of Christ, for the sake of His Church, for the sake of His Kingdom.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, God wants you in His Church, but not as a badge nor as a status, but to be an active member of the Body. And each part of the Body serves a purpose, but not necessarily the same purpose: an eye doesn’t digest, a foot doesn’t hear, a hand doesn’t weep, but each does its allotted task that the Body may thrive. Let us, too, serve the Church with the talents and gifts we have received from God that we may be a part of His Body and heirs of eternal 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.
“Behold!” says the Forerunner, “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) For both the Offering and the Offerer, both the Sacrifice and the High Priest, comes forward to be baptised by the Greatest of all the Prophets. “John would have prevented Him,” recounts the Evangelist, “saying, ‘I need to be baptised by You, and do You come to me?’” For Christ does not need cleansing, does not need baptism, does not need purification—our Paschal Lamb is spotless.
But Christ comes for a different purpose. He had said to His namesake, Joshua which is also Jesus, the son of Nun, centuries earlier,
“Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel.
Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.
From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory.
No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.
Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.”
— Joshua 1:2–7
Yet the children of Israel did not keep to the Law given through Moses so the Lord Himself has come to retake the land, to drive out His enemies, to institute the Kingdom of Peace. Let us join with Him, let us purify ourselves that we may be inheritors with Him. But this will require of us much, for the Lord will cross over so that He will teach and preach but also so that He will be mocked and ridiculed, so that He will suffer and die. This is no victory parade nor triumphant march. He crosses over that He may bear His Cross, the ultimate symbol of suffering, pain and humiliation which has become for us the symbol of Life.
…
Read this Sermon, Cross the Jordan.
Archive of Past Sermons.
Services this week
Friday 10th January
Discussion on the Prophecy of Isaiah, 8 pm
Online only
Saturday 11th January
Great Vespers, 6.30 pm
At 3rd URC Scout Hall, Chandlers Ford
Sunday 12th 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]