7th June 2015

                                                                                                                                                            Mark 8: 1 – 10. The feeding of the 4,000. Jane returns to the theme that Loving the world means viewing our resources differently. Using the ABCD of Asset Based Community Development she raises some practical challenges about how we grow as a community of God’s people. Faithfulness and fruitfulness are key themes through Scripture and there is a useful focus on abundance and aspiration in God’s plan. We consider abundance and scarcity in the churches. Briefly we consider the life and example of Jean Varnier recent winner of the Templeton prize and the founder of L’Arche in 1964. JTH

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the  website 

31st May 2015

Luke 11: 37 – 42. Loving the world “ Neglected?”  We are continuing in our series in loving the world and focusing in on from the passage with the phrase “You give God a tenth of the seasoning herbs such as mint and rue and all the other herbs but you neglect justice and love for God. These you should practice without neglecting the others.” Note justice and the love for God are linked. Geoff looks at some of the modern usages of the word “ neglect “ and its associations before turning to the text and looking at how justice and loving God might be linked.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the  website 

24th May 2015

                                                                                                                                                  Pentecost Sunday, John 15: 18 – 16:1. Loving the world: the resource of the Helper. Following on from last week we see that our resources include the Jesus gift of the Holy Spirit. Our resources enable us to “resurgere” or rise again. The Holy Spirit enables us to love the world. We as God’s people are the community of the Spirit and so communities of prayer and action. We discussed and shared how the Holy Spirit helps and enables us. JTH.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website 

17th May 2015  

                                                                                                                                                           Luke 12: 13 – 34. Loving the world means viewing our resources differently. Differently from whom? The earth and everything in it belong to God. What resources do we have available to us? What choices do we make and on what basis? The Pharisees loved money and sneered at Jesus. Greed and anxiety were key concerns of Jesus. The greed and consumer choices of the West impoverishes and hurts the developing world: example of Congo and minerals like Coltan. JTH.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the  website

10th May 2015

                                                                                                                                                                 1 Timothy 2: 1 – 7. Loving the world means praying for world rulers. We considered what this might mean and why we should do it. We are praying for God’s kingdom to come on earth. Paul and Timothy knew all about oppressive rulers and occupation. In our hearts we want to live quiet and peaceful lives, to see God respected and people behaving well. Rulers have the power to favour certain groups rather than rule in justice. They can also discriminate against various groups. The prophet Daniel declared that God controls the times and seasons: he makes and unmakes kings. How are we praying? JTH

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the  website