The Manse

Dear Friends

Imagine if someone asked you to stop everything you were doing right now – even if you’re in the middle of an important task; even if you’re finally making real progress with something after weeks of work and you need a bit more time – imagine if someone asked you to drop everything because there’s something very important for you to do and it can’t’ wait!

Mark’s gospel tells us that this was how Jesus called his disciples, Simon and Andrew. [Mark 1.18] Jesus didn’t suggest that they take time to think it over.  Jesus demanded an immediate decision.  Two men working to support their families and Jesus asked them to give up everything they were doing to come with him immediately and, incredibly, they went with him.  Simon and Andrew didn’t prompt the encounter. It was all Jesus’ doing.  Jesus must have seen something in them — not what they were, but what they would be.  There must have been something very remarkable about Jesus who made this urgent demand on them. The two men didn’t know Jesus or what their future would be; yet they walked away from their families, their work and their lives immediately.

As Christians, we know that Jesus calls each one of us. Often though, we look for excuses and hope it’s someone else he’s asking.  We take time to think about what He asks us to do as our contribution to His ministry in this world; we look at all the options and we stall and rationalise, thinking that it’s just too much for us; more like a task for a minister, a younger or older person, someone who’s smarter or has more time or energy.  But not us - we have enough to do, we’ve done our bit and we can’t do anything else.

The disciples were ordinary people in whom Jesus saw something that they didn’t see themselves.  Jesus chose them as he chooses us.  Whatever Jesus has in mind for us, we can be sure that none of us are ever left out no matter how inept or unworthy or challenged we may feel.  Jesus’ call doesn’t always mean dropping what we’re doing immediately, nor does it always require that we leave what we’re doing behind - but it might.  It most certainly means that Jesus asks us to leave behind those thoughts and actions and bad habits that reveal a lack of faith and trust in God’s purposes for our lives and His church. 

As it was for simple fishermen 2000 years ago so it is for us - Jesus still comes to interrupt people’s everyday lives to ask them to come with Him.  What task is Jesus calling you to?  How have you responded in the past?  How will you respond in the future? What must you leave behind to follow Jesus as He asks you to?

Yours

    Jeanne

A short informal service takes place every Friday morning in the church transept at 11.30am. 
Everyone is most welcome to attend.
There will be no service on the Fridays of 23^rd and 30^th December

PRAYERS FOR HEALING

A Prayers for Healing service takes place every 2^nd Sunday of the month in the ‘Upper Room’ [room above the vestry] from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.  Everyone welcome. 

Prayer requests can be given to our prayer promoter or to our Minister, Rev. Jeanne Roddick, or put in the Prayer box at the front of the church at any time.