Love your neighbour

Those who visited the Bible Study corner at the last First Sunday Thing saw how a text for the day appears in three different places in the Bible. 'Love your neighbour as yourself' is tucked away in an obscure corner of Leviticus, somewhere between the insightful 'don't spread slander' and the suprising 'don't wear clothing woven from two kinds of material'. But Jewish people in Jesus' time had already picked it out as a key verse in the Old Testament. So Jesus quotes it as a key text in Matthew's Gospel, and our reading for the last First Sunday Thing from the letter of James near the end of the New Testament does so too: 'if you really keep this royal law, you will do right'.

Pulled away from God

One of the questions posed for Sunday was "What are the habits and the things which people around us regard as natural behaviour and attitudes which actually pull us to behave in ways which deny the Gospel by which we claim to live?". Not wanting to stand out was by most the common answer collected on the day, of which the following is a sample.

Thinking what other people might say.
Went off an watched TV instead.
Family demands.
What other people might say about us which may hurt our feelings.
One friend says I can't.
We don't listen.
Popularity (fitting in); easier not to challenge.
Feeling others have more or are more able.
Listening to what other people say.
Because of lack of confidence I hang back.
Peer pressure.
Not having enough myself.

Bell chiming

There will be an opportunity to explore and try the chiming mechanism on St Nicolas’ bells on Sunday. The church has a full set of bells in the tower but the ancient frame in which they sit is no longer strong enough for them to be rung by swinging them through full circles. Instead wires have been attached to small hammers which hit the bells when the wires are pulled near the organ. Everyone who wishes to do so will be able to go up the stairway in the vestry, be shown what it is all about, and have a go.

6th September

If you show special attention to someone who is dressed well but say 'sit in the corner' to someone who seems obviously less important, then you can hardly claim that you are one of those who 'loves his neighbour as himself'.

This is a warning near the end of the Bible due to be read on 6th September, so we've decided to make it the key for our service on that day.

What are the habits and the things which people around us regard as natural behaviour and attitudes which actually pull us to behave in ways which deny the Gospel by which we claim to live?

Brass rubbing

This is one of the brass rubbings from the last First Sunday Thing. We look forward to planning the next two on Tuesday evening.

I am the web

Our First Sunday Thing is 'all age worship' rather than just 'family service'. We try to provide a proper creche and activities suitable for children. But we also try to provide things for adult study as well. Last time a group of about ten studied the different places in John's Gospel where Jesus says 'I am the bread of life' or 'I am the vine' or something similar. They looked at the depth of meaning behind these, and also wondered what images John might have used if he was writing today. Their suggestions included: I am the text; I am the sat nav; I am the energy; I am the window; I am the conscience; I am the server; I am the facilitator; I am the net; I am the provider; I am th ISP; I am the search engine; I am the navigator.

Today's bread

This is some of the pitta bread coming off the production line at the service this morning. Those who helped roll it out seemed to have almost as much fun as those who eat it. And it all helped bring alive Jesus' saying 'I am the bread of life'. We will be planning the September and October services at the Rectory at 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday 18th August: comments or suggestions from those who cannot come along would be as welcome as always.