Dear Friends
Our decisions in life have consequences: we affect others and ourselves by our actions—both positively and negatively. And for what we perceive to be small negatives we come up with excuses, especially when we think we’re not affecting other people: “it’s okay I was speeding, there was no one else around and no cameras, … it’s okay to exaggerate on my CV, everyone does it, … it’s okay I ignored the beggar, he looked suspicious and I didn’t have time to stop.”
It’s okay.
When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.
All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.
And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
— Matthew 25:31–33
Judgement is upon us. Christ, to Whom all authority has been given, (Matthew 28:18) is coming. And it is tempting for us to reduce the Gospel to the “nice parts,” that God is Good so we should be good too, or that Christ died to free us from our sins, or that Christ promises us eternal Life—all of these things are true!—but we need to remember that the End is coming, the King will come and will separate humanity to the right and to the left.
And the “gospel of the nice parts” melts away as we each stand before the Judge. But on what terms will we be judged? It is not that we need to believe enough in God, that we have memorised prayers and Scripture, that we have attended enough services nor that we have been members of the Orthodox Church. Our judgement will be on how we treat others, how we care for those who are weak and vulnerable, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” (Matthew 25:40)
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we come together to worship to bring us to the reality of our lives: we have received news of the Resurrection of Christ, we have been liberated from idolatry, sin and death, we have been brought to new and eternal Life. Yet we must be continually changed into the likeness of God, that we do good in the world not solely because it makes us feel good nor that other people praise us but that we live in conformity with the Gospel and demonstrate to others the joy of the Resurrection that they too may know the risen Lord, be changed by Him and also be inheritors of eternal Life.
Come! Come and let us be transformed and transfigured into true human persons together that we may be the witnesses of God in the world.
Come and see!
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.
Before someone’s death, none has rights to an inheritance. And from the Father’s perspective he could have refused His son’s request. But He does not do this. He desires not a slave nor a robot but for His son to be a person with dignity and worth, a person capable of becoming divine.
And I come to the Father and I say to Him, “Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.” Because, to me He is already dead and I am severing my relationship with Him. I have been offered all, to “dwell in the House of the Lord to the end of my days,” (Psalm 22:6 lxx) but I want to leave Him, to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17)—to me it was the Father Who is dead whereas in reality, in that very day I asked for my inheritance, I died. Even though I am still in the Father’s House, I am separated from Him and therefore separated from Life.
A few days later I leave the Father’s House. And I am given great boldness in my descent into sin. How often in our lives do we feel great confidence and power at the moment of sin? “I am in control, I need God for nothing!” Though even the inheritance with which I sin has come from the Father. “I am in control,” I lie as I start to realise instantly, for the assurance I felt only moments ago has gone, it was not truly I who was in control but another working through me. The Devil gives us great daring up until the moment of sin and then abandons us leaving us bereft and alone.
Read this Sermon, But when he came to himself.
Archive of Past Sermons.
Services this week
Friday 21st February
Discussion on the Prophecy of Isaiah, 8 pm
Online only
Saturday 22nd February
Great Vespers, 6.30 pm
At 3rd URC Scout Hall, Chandlers Ford
Sunday 23rd February
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]