Change is one thing that today's gospel is about. On the mountaintop Jesus is transfigured, changed in appearance. In the Greek the word is metamorphosis. The change Jesus undergoes is founded in his faithful and abiding relationship with God. The light and glory he bestows is the light and glory of God.

In what ways have you changed in your life? In what ways have you stayed the same? How has your living been transformed through your connection to and relationship with God? What is God saying to you through this process?

Have a blessed week! Peace & love,

Rebecca

12 February 2012

Dear Friends,

I have been reflecting recently on what worship and praise is all about. We say here at St Philip's that we value worship. There is much to be said! So to get us all thinking and reflecting I offer some quotes from a range of Christian writers and thinkers:

"The church is the church in her worship. Worship is not an optional extra, but it is of the very life and essence of the church. Nor is it a false grovelling in the dust of the religiously minded. We are never more truly human than when we worship God. We rise to all the heights of human dignity when we worship God, and all God’s purposes in creation and redemption are fulfilled in us as together we are renewed in and through Christ, and in the name of Christ we glorify God. So by the grace of God we seek to voice for all creatures the praises of God." (James B. Torrance)

"To worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to open the heart to the love of God, to devote the will to the purpose of God" (William Temple)

"In genuine worship, psalms and hymns, prayers and gifts are the signs and tokens of self-giving. No-one has truly worshipped unless we have given ourselves in work and service, for the Christian liturgy does not end with the benediction. In order that it may be made in life as a whole, it should be made in the context of worship." (Stephen Winward)

What is worship to you?

Have a blessed week,

Peace and love Rebecca

29 January 2012

Dear friends,

I came across a quote this week for which I don't have the original source but it goes like this: "Jesus did not take something out of us to make us good. He made us aware of something inside.....truth, love, forgiveness". I think this is how growing in our Christian journey works. Yes, we need to identify those things that we would identify as 'sins', that is those things in us that we perceive separate us from God. Another quote says that "bad habits and compulsions cannot be conquered by determined resolutions or by promising ourselves that we won't go on doing this or that. They cannot be rooted out.. they must be replaced with their opposites". What Jesus does is make us aware of the goodness and possibilities inside of us. He draws them out with his love, compassion and forgiveness. As we practise these same qualities we do the same for those near to us. In this way the light of Christ shines in the world. Have a blessed week,

Peace and love, Rebecca

22 January 2012

As Rebecca was having a break, our first letter this year was from the Revd Linda Anchell, deacon.

Those who sing, pray twice. In three out of five of our regular services we sing. (Do you know when the services are? or am I wrong? Freddo Frogs and jelly beans for right answers!)

Many people help me to choose hymns. Musicians and preachers are especially needed in this task. I try to reflect the readings or the season. Today we concentrate read of travelling, which comes from epiphany and the travels of the magi following the light. Alongside that is the theme of discipleship.

Simon and Andrew, James and John, start a long and very new journey in today's gospel.

So for some of us we sing. And often the tune might stay with you through the week. With that will come snatches of the words, or perhaps the words can be looked up again. Music will help words and ideas to flow. Use it to pray them too.

Those who sing pray twice. So we thank God for music!

Linda.