Dear Friends
Christ is risen!
Repent, and let every one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
— Acts 2:38
So says the Apostle Peter when asked what the people who believe in Christ and believe in His Resurrection should do: repent, be baptised and receive the Holy Spirit. But what does it mean to repent? Is it just a case of saying “sorry” to God and then moving on, freed from the guilt of an offence?
This is different from “experiencing of remorse,” or “regret:” to repent is not to have bad feelings about a situation or to feel ashamed. Repentance is, using the biblical understanding “a change of mind,” this is the meaning of the Greek word “μετάνοια” (metanoia). This may happen at the same time as regret, but is not the same thing.
To change my mind I need to accept that I was wrong about something, that my own mind falls short in some way. But there is also the implication that there is a better mind to have, that I need to transform my mind into the “correct mind” or the “True mind.” So, for the Christian, it is to turn again to the living God, to Christ, and say to Him, “I was wrong, I turn again to you for guidance, I accept my place as a creature in Your Creation.”
But “saying” is not enough: many people say many things. And the Lord points us to this in Scripture.
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven.
— Matthew 7:21
If I break a plate I can say, “Sorry,” but this is an expression of regret, of remorse, not an expression of repentance. To be repentant I would need to help clear it up. And if, for some reason, I cannot help I could provide compensation, buy a new one, and if that is not possible I could show my repentance by offering a gift, or providing a service, or something—anything!—to outwardly show my inward repentance.
Taking something, saying I’m sorry and then keeping it is not repentance: taking it, saying I’m sorry and returning it with more besides is.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, God does not want us solely to show remorse at our sins but to repent of them. And this is not only towards God but towards each other—“inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” (Matthew 25:40) We cannot undo our sins but we can serve each other, help each other, be joyful with each other and sorrowful with each other: and we can do the same with God through His Church. This is our repentance, this is our change of mind, this is how we demonstrate our faithfulness to God so that we not only say to God, “Lord, Lord,” but that we do His will and thereby enter the Kingdom of Heaven and receive eternal Life.
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Come and see!
There has come an opportunity to establish a new mission community in Chichester. Once running, we hope to serve a Liturgy there on certain Saturdays. Our Father in Christ, Metropolitan Silouan, has blessed this outreach and has entrusted it to the heavenly patronage of the Holy Great Virgin-Martyr and Vanquisher of Demons Margaret of Antioch (feast day 17th July).
If you are interested in supporting our parish’s mission, please let me know, and I will update you as we make progress.
Holy Mother Margaret, pray to God for us!
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.
Christ is risen!
“Do you want to be healed?” the Lord asks, and I am tempted to reply, “You’re the Lord incarnate, you tell me!” “Do you want to be healed?” and I am left with incredulity: yet the Lord is asking you and He is asking me, “Do you want to be healed?”
I want to take healing and continue with my life. I am ill, I suffer—though not to the extent of others—and I want a miracle, a sign, a justification of my attending services and giving to the Church. I say to the Lord, “I pray, I give, I serve: now give me what I want. Heal me, and my life will be more manageable; Heal me, and I will deign to do a little more for You and Your Church; Heal me, and I will give you a rest from my occasional prayers.”
“Do you want to be healed?” The Lord does not offer healing for us to live according to the standards of this age, the Lord offers healing that we live according to the standards of the Kingdom. And for this to be true it may be that the healing I receive is spiritual rather than physical—but the spiritual healing is greater than the physical. Since to be healed physically prepares us for life in this age, to be healed spiritually prepares us for Life in the next.
…
Read this Sermon, Do you want to be healed?
Archive of Past Sermons.
Services this week
Friday 16th May
Discussion on the Prophecy of Isaiah, 8 pm
Online only
Saturday 17th May
Great Vespers, 6.30 pm
At 3rd URC Scout Hall, Chandlers Ford
Sunday 18th May
Matins & 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 the risen Christ
Fr Alexander
[email protected]