Wednesday 29 June 2016

divided or united...

Yesterday evening my daughter Amy and my son Reece were confirmed by the Bishop of Dover along with other candidates from other parishes in the Dover Deanery.
Confirmation is a 'next step' following baptism in their journey as disciples of Jesus.
Confirmation takes place in the Church of England, other denominations have other practices and different views on 'becoming' a Christian.  However, I think all would agree that what really matters is making the decision to follow Jesus.
In the early church there was much division and debate about all sorts of things but what united them was Jesus.
Things don't seem to be much different today when we consider the many issues which seem to divide the Church - BUT the Church remains UNITED BY JESUS.
The recent EU Referendum result has caused division among many people...
There are Christians who voted 'remain' and others who voted 'leave' - the result has left many of them feeling angry at the decision...
and they (like lots of other people) seem to be clutching at straws and looking for loopholes.  This is sad and yet another example of how 'worldy' things cause division among followers of Jesus.
We need to remember that we are UNITED BY JESUS.
My prayer is for reconciliation, peace and harmony across our great Nation.
My hope is in Jesus...

Monday 30 May 2016

has it really been that long?

Quite often we start off with good intentions, but then we put things off...

for ages I've been thinking, "I should post another blog", then I get distracted...

today, I finally take a look at my blog and am shocked at how long it's been since my last post, especially because since then I have another granddaughter and grandson!

'Busy-ness' is often my excuse for putting things off; but maybe it's really that my priorities are not what they should be?

In the time since I last posted a blog, lots of things have developed for us in Dover with the formation of the new Dover Group Ministry and the arrival of Revd Dr John Walker (as Team Rector) in March 2015; then Revd Josias de Souza Jr (as Mission Priest) in March this year.


Josias and I work closely together in Buckland, partly because of my parish role and partly because of my Cross-Links role.

He and his family answered God's call to leave their home in Brazil to come to Dover.  They embody what it truly is to be sent by God!

Josias is passionate for people to find out about Jesus and for them to turn to him.

At Cross-Links we want to share the love of Jesus and mostly do this by 'being there' for people especially when they most need help.

Sharing the GOOD NEWS OF JESUS is not something we should put off.  It should be part of our DNA as Christians.  As Josias often reminds us - we can do it because Jesus is with us.