2009 April « Box Hill Baptist Church

Archive for April, 2009

26 April 2009

April 26, 2009 at 9:48 am · Filed under Front pages

The Prayer of St Patrick

I arise today through the strength of heaven.

Light of sun, radiance of moon,

Splendour of fire, speed of lightning,

swiftness of wind. Depth of the sea,

Stability of earth, firmness of rock.

I arise today.

Through God’s strength to pilot me.

God’s eye to look before me.

God’s wisdom to guide me.

God’s way to be before me.

God’s shield to protect me.

From all who shall wish me ill, afar and near.

Alone and in a multitude.

Against every cruel, merciless power that may oppose my body, and so,

Christ with me, Christ before me,

Christ behind me, Christ in me.

Christ beneath me, Christ above me

Christ on my right, Christ on my left,

Christ when I lay down, Christ when I sit down,

Christ when I arise,

Christ to sheild me

Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me.

Christ the power of everyone who speaks of me.

I arise today.

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19 April 2009

April 17, 2009 at 11:37 am · Filed under Front pages

When disorientation occurs in our lives, when drama arrives, or difficulties descend, to what do we return? Where do we look? And what are we open to see? In our Biblical story today, there is someone who appears in the room… That is, in appearing, he is seen….We may look around, sometimes very confused, longing to discover some connection that will extend us and move us on; something that will re-orient us. If we are open to see, we may discover that in the figure of a Christ who beckons us forward into life. The disciples see that person, somewhat surprisingly, but real and recognizable, in the resurrected Jesus.

The resurrection image of Jesus draws us to consider both the familiarity of a ‘man’ who lived and breathed and drew us along a journey, as well as ‘man’ who extends our reality in extraordinary ways. He appears, is recognized, and extends the moment. He is the point at which life re-aligns.

By its very definition, ‘re-creation’ refers to the creative energy rising up into a new reality, a new normal. But there needs to be discovered a solid base from which that rising can emerge.

Every time we are confronted by life’s complexity, we need to really grapple with what is important to us, and we need to return to the base from which we must live. We return to the story that bids us forward. The story of one who appears in a room, and beckons us to join in a resurrection life -story.” Anne

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April 14, 2009 at 10:50 am · Filed under Uncategorized

Faith is an incredibly personal issue. A framing of self into a bigger picture that calls upon every part of our selves in a decision to follow a certain journey.

It’s perhaps why religion is up there with politics in things one shouldn’t talk about at a dinner party. We even talk about a personal relationship with Christ, our ‘personal Lord and Saviour’.

But as we stand at the cross, on this day, we look around us at another 6 billion people, and behind us at the 100 billion people who have lived their lives on this planet, we appreciate that we stand together as a family and a people that God loves beyond measure.

And as we look back towards the cross, we see the evidence of this love, brought to focus in one man’s actions. The marks and suffering that we can see before us, so that we can have hope for the future, and be freed of the burdens that we have lumbered ourselves with.

And we know that it was not just for us. We are connected to one another through the sacrifice that Christ has made for us. We share the gift that he has given to us through his life and death. Through Jesus’ actions we are bound together as a people under God’s grace, love and mercy, and rescued and given hope from our collective actions that harm ourselves, each other and our world.

Everyone I meet, today, tomorrow and beyond, is a recipient of that same grace that we experience and embrace here today. It makes me consider how differently I would see them, treat them, relate to them, if I could see them as I see the people in this image before me. Framed by the sacrifice of Christ, and the cross he bore.