Dear friends,Jesus said, ‘You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’ Matthew 5:43-44.
It is not always easy to love those around us. Jesus knew that.
Jesus and his friends lived under Roman occupation. An Empire which impacted on so many parts of a person’s life and must have felt like it could last forever. There were divisions within the occupied Jewish people as well as fear of the Roman occupiers.
Jesus’ words about loving your neighbour would not have been easy. And yet, he challenges his hearers to go beyond that and also to love their enemies.
The parallels to our own world could not be more striking. With growing enmity between our global neighbours as well as widening gaps between different ways of interpreting Christianity and Christian identity along with protests and counter-protests regarding asylum seekers, our world can feel frightening.
When I feel discouraged, despairing or fearful, I remind myself to draw on the deeply stirring lines of the Iona Community song:
Don’t be afraid.
My love is stronger, my love is stronger than your fear.
Don’t be afraid.
My love is stronger and I have promised,
Promised to be always near.
Bishop Desmond Tutu has become known as the voice of the anti-apartheid movement amidst racism and segregation in South Africa. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 and once said: “If you want peace, you don’t talk to your friends, you talk to your enemies.”
When I listen to someone’s views I may strongly disagree with or find offensive, I remind myself that part of following Jesus is seeking to see beyond the hurt or offense and see the whole human being, full of complexity and diversity. I can recognise that the heart of peace-making is knowing deeply that each and every human being is made in the image of God, made in and for love. And in that, I can seek to love them.
Loving ourselves, our neighbours and our enemies is definitely not easy. But it is utterly transformational – offering a way of peace and justice our world so desperately needs.
Nicola
Photo: Evelyn Simak
| CALENDAR | |||
| 5th | SUNDAY | 10.45am | Morning Worship led by Rev Phil Chilvers |
| 12th | SUNDAY | 10.45am | Morning Worship led by Rev Dr Rosalind Selby St Andrew’s URC, Roundhay |
| 14th | Tuesday | 12.30pm | Guild Lunch |
| 19th | SUNDAY | 10.45am | Morning Worship led by Rev Phil Chilvers |
| 22nd | Wednesday | 9.30am | Elders’ Meeting |
| 26th | SUNDAY | 10.45am | Morning Worship, including the Sacrament of Holy Communion, led by our Minister, Rev Dr Nicola Robinson We shall be joined by our friends from West Park URC |
| 12 noon | CHURCH MEETING | ||
In Memoriam:
Our former Minister, the Rev’d Robert Way passed away peacefully on the 26th September in the nursing home, where he had been residing.
Robert served in Northwood (1963-65); St Peter’s, Sunderland (1965-1973); Clerk, Durham Presbytery (1966-1973) and Headingley St Columba URC, Leeds from 1973 until his retirement in 1999.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Stella and Sarah and his grandchildren Stefan, Isaac and William. The Church Secretary will send out details of the Funeral as soon as arrangements have been made.
Leeds URC Partnership ‘QUIET DAY’
The LURC Partnership are holding a further ‘QUIET DAY’ on Saturday, 8th November from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm at the Community of the Resurrection, Mirfield, WF14 0BN; the day will be led by the Partnership Minister Team and the theme will be ‘Be brave Go gently’.
There will be time for reflection and worship and there will opportunities to explore the beautiful gardens. A two-course lunch will be provided; pay as you feel.
To book or get more info, email sheana.dudley@standrews.cc or phone 07460 813179 by 18th October.
CHRISTIAN AID
CHRISTIAN AID ANNIVERSARY SERVICE on 27th SEPTEMBER
Due to the Marathon we were unable to celebrate 80 years of Christian Aid at the start of Christian Aid week in May. However, I felt that we should still “celebrate” C/A and all the work they do across the world in times of great need. There was a Service in Westminster Abbey to which some collectors were invited. Ruth Boulton from West Park URC was invited to this service and kindly spoke about her day there. The service on Saturday was based on the one in Westminster Abbey. I very much appreciated the fact that we are able to use our church at no cost. Thank you to all who contributed to the service and the refreshments which followed. ( We were able to finish the cakes at Morning Coffee after the Sunday Service!). The story of the work of Christian Aid “From start til now.” and shown in a series of posters was made available to us and we were able to display it in the Large Hall. There were 33 people at the service and it was great to see that we were supported by the Partnership and Churches Together.
Thanks to all who helped in any way.
A collection was also made at the 80th Anniversary Service for Christian Aid Service on 27th September when we raised £360 of which £265 was Gift Aided. I am asking that the money donated at this service to go to the Afghanistan Earthquake Appeal.
Following a request in church for donations to Christian Aid for the Afghanistan Earthquake Appeal, the amount collected from HStC amounted to £230 of which £220 was Gift Aided.
Thanks to all who donated to both collections.
JOAN McSHANE
THANK YOU Thank you to all who contributed to our Harvest Appeal for WaterAid.
A total of £1,230 has been raised, of which £640 is Gift Aided.
I’m sure the money will be put to good use and make a tremendous difference to a lot of people.
Susan Bollon
BOOK SUNDAY AND BARBECUE
Around twenty five people enjoyed a delightful barbecue ably cooked by Richard and David. A nice relaxing time to catch up with friends. We also raised £75 for Water Aid. Many thanks to all those who helped with the catering.
GUILD LUNCH
This month our lunch will be held on Tuesday, 14th October when we meet as usual at 12.30pm for lunch at 1 o’clock. All are welcome.
When staying at the coast, I love seeing the lighthouse come on – earlier and earlier each evening at the moment as the days shorten. A symbol of danger and safety.
It makes me think of all the hymns associated with the sea and I as I looked some up online I discovered that in many churches Sea Sunday is celebrated on the second Sunday in July. On that day churches pray for and may fund-raise for sailors and seafarers and their families and for those who work with them and support them. Perhaps, as an ‘Island Race’ we have a special affinity with the sea and the connections with the life of Christ and his fishermen apostles. Jesus was aware of the perilous nature of their livelihood both from the sheer danger of the uncertainties of the weather and from the uncertainty of their catch.
I expect many of you have family members who have served at sea – in the Royal Navy, merchant navy or even in fishing. My grandmother recounted stories of her father, who was a ship’s engineer on the early steam ships, and was shipwrecked several times. A favourite family hymn sung round the piano was
Pull for the shore, sailor, pull for the shore!
Safe in the life-boat, sailor, sing evermore;
Glory, glory, hallelujah!’ pull for the shore.
Recently, we sang the hymn ‘Will your anchor hold in the storms of life’. A hymn full of seafaring imagery; Strong tides, cables straining, ’Straits of Fear’. It is a hymn that Rev’d Phil Chilvers has chosen a couple of times and which he told us is closely associated with the Boys Brigade. Although I feel a little concern about what effect the lines ‘Will your anchor hold in the floods of death, when the waters cold chill your latest breath? ‘ may have on young lads.
But, although many hymns are associated with the tempestuousness of the sea and how our lives may mirror that, with God and his love like an anchor or rock holding us steady – the sea has other aspects depicted in hymns. ‘There’s a wideness in God’s mercy, Like the wideness of the sea.’ Or ‘Wide, wide as the ocean, High as the heavens above; Deep, deep as the deepest sea, Is my saviour’s love.’ Or the peace of the being by the Syrian Sea with Christ in ‘Dear Lord and Father of Mankind’.
On one website there were nearly 200 hymns associated with the sea and I have sometimes wondered if continental hymns use the same imagery – many countries having little coastline or none at all. And many citizens rarely, if ever seeing the sea. Perhaps there are more hymns like this one by Martin Luther:
Our God stands like a fortress rock,
with walls that will not fail us;
he helps us brace against the shock
of fears which now assail us.
But whether these hymns describe land or sea they all reflect the strength we find when we depend on God’s everlasting love.
