Update: Sophia Hub Redbridge

Ros Southern writes:

"Hi there - here's the blogs and news this week

COME TO THE LAUNCH OF THE SOPHIA HUBS NETWORK

Our Sophia Hubs launch is on Tuesday evening at 6pm by Bank Station - do come, info here

ENTREPRENEUR'S CLUB

Info on the session this week with Amanda Simpson and Excel - click here

Info on the next session, Tuesday week, 'start with the end in mind' with Celestine Ekpenyong click here

TIMEBANK NEWS

We've reached 100 members! For info on what's been happening and how to get a free haircut click here!

REDBRIDGE NEWS

We're in the Ilford Recorder this week! Click here to read all about it :)

Joining-The-Dots-Of-The-Week - big success with Nat West bank and community support for business! Read about it here

Redbridge Chamber CHRISTMAS DINNER - you are invited!! Click here

There is a continuing and fab programme of support for business at Enterprise Desk. Click here for info

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE NEWS

You can buy a bike Saturday 10-3 from Ilford Recyles. Bike sale. click here for info

SOPHIA COURSE

Want to see what's going on and meet the participants? Click here

WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR US

Get your friends and contacts to Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter, contact me to receive this weekly email, pass on information, write a guest blog. :)

Have a good weekend,

Ros Southern

Coordinator, Sophia Hubs Redbridge
E: ros.southern@sophiahubs.com M 07707 460309 / 0208 590 2568 (answer phone)
T: @sophiahubs7k F: Sophia Hubs Seven Kings (please follow us and Like us!)"

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Michael Kiwanuka - Rest.

Candlelight Vigil Service for victims of knife crime

Danny O'Brien of Anti-Knife UK has said that he was "so pleased with the turnout" at last night's Candlelight Vigil for victims of knife crime which was hosted at St John's Seven Kings. He says, we "had about 60 people attended and a few technical issues, but I think everyone who came was pleased they came and all my speakers were first class and Camara Jessica Fearon made me cry with her singing and the dancer at the end was amazing too. Thank you if you attended ..." He goes on to say that he would "like to thank everyone who attend or sent messages of support. A big thank you to all those who took part and especially Jonathan Evens who believed in what I was trying to do and offered me his church for the vigil."

I am quoted in the Ilford Recorder as saying that, “the congregation was very grateful for the event.” They took part in an act of remembrance, lighting a candle next to a photo display of knife crime victims. “They were very moved by the occasion, the prayers and reflection" and "were fired up by the speakers too.” Mike Smith, of Word 4 Weapons, an organisation which launched this country’s first weapon exchange programme spoke alongside Wilson Chowdhry, chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA), and Danny O’Brien.

I said that, “We put on the service because we recognised a need people have when they are grieving to remember loved ones and to do that in a public way too with prayer and reflection in the run up to Christmas.” I'm also quoted as saying that we won't be repeating the service next year. That's partly because I will have moved on from St John's by that time and, therefore, can't make commitments on behalf of the church but is also because Danny would like to take the format of this service to other locations rather than simply repeating it annually in Seven Kings.

A contemporary dance act, “expressing the emotions of those affected by knife crime”, rounded off the service in a powerful and moving manner.

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Ooberfuse - Different Drum.

Award for Anti-Knife UK

Danny O'Brien, who runs Anti-Knife UK, has won an award from the Chris Donovan Trust.  Click here to read the story in the Ilford Recorder.

Danny is involved in organising a Candle-light Vigil for victims of knife crime to be hosted by St John's Seven Kings on Wednesday 3rd december from 7.00pm to 9.00pm. Among those speaking at the service will be Mike Smith, the founder of Word 4 Weapons.

This week's Ilford Recorder has great coverage of community initiatives in Redbridge including: a Vigil for Magdalena Welna; the opening of the Redbridge Cold Weather Centre; a day in the life of Ilford's Salvation Army lieutenants; Shoebox presents collected by St Peter's Aldborough Hatch; the Sophia Hub Enterprise Club; and the East London Three Faiths Forum Tour of the Holy Land. Click here to read these stories.

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The Mighty Clouds of Joy - I've Been In The Storm Too Long.

Spiritual Life: Better Together

Today's edition of the Ilford Recorder features Bishop Stephen's ninth missionary journey, the first anniversary of the Seven Kings & Newbury Park Sophia Hub and the Patronal Festival of St John's Seven Kings.

These also feature in my 'Spiritual Life' column for the paper, where I say:

‘Better Together’ was the successful slogan of those opposing Scottish independence and wanting the United Kingdom to stay united. Over the past week three groups of which I am part have held events which suggest that we are better together.

commission4mission is a network of Christian artists who exhibit together (currently at St Stephen Walbrook) and support and encourage one another in their creative work. The Sophia Hub locally, which has just celebrated its first anniversary, is bringing entrepreneurs and community activists together to generate ideas for improving the local area. St John’s Seven Kings celebrated its Patronal Festival by inviting past and present members to come together and say how God had been at work in their lives. 

One of the reasons why we are better together is because collectively we can achieve more than we can individually. Jesus began the movement of his Spirit by building a team of 12 disciples. Even God does not operate alone! He said he would be found today when two or three gather in his name. In other words, when people come together to share their skills and talents.

Whether artists, entrepreneurs, community activists or people of faith, we are more creative and more effective when our talents and ideas are shared and used. We are better together.

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Natalie Merchant - These Are Days.

Progress on step-free access to local stations

Seven Kings & Newbury Park Resident's Association, along with other community and lobby groups, has been campaigning for step-free access at Newbury Park and Seven Kings stations.

It is great news, then, that an announcement has been made that Seven Kings station will have step-free access as part of the Crossrail development. Click here to read the story of this announcement in the Ilford Recorder.

TfL have also, in a separate press release, said that Newbury Park station 'could be made step-free with third party contributions and the LU fund.' While this is a long way from being a firm commitment on step-free access at Newbury Park, it is a public acknowledgement of intent on TfL's part which should be publicised and on which they should be regularly questioned and asked for updates on progress.

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Show of Hands - Are We Alright?

Ilford Recorder stories about St John's

Here are links to the stories in the Ilford Recorder about Bishop Stephen's missionary journey which ended at St John's Seven Kings with the first anniversary celebration of the Sophia Hub (http://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/news/news/bishop_of_chelmsford_completes_redbridge_pilgrimage_leg_1_3792115) and then the story about our Patronal Festival weekend (http://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/news/news/seven_kings_church_enjoys_double_weekend_celebration_1_3796136).

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Tintwistle Brass Band (Songs of Praise) - Come let us join our cheerful songs.

Sabbatical art pilgrimage: Ilford Recorder article

Here's a link to the story that the Ilford Recorder have published about my sabbatical art pilgrimage - http://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/news/news/vicar_follows_his_art_across_europe_1_3719653. 

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Arvo Pärt - Cantus In Memoriam Benjamin Britten.

Spiritual Life: Resurrection

Here is my Spiritual Life column for this week's Ilford Recorder:

Death AND resurrection. Suffering AND salvation. This is the journey which Christians make, following in the footsteps of Jesus, as we travel through Lent and Easter.

While it is a journey which in no way minimises the reality and pain of suffering and bereavement, it is ultimately a journey of hope. One which leads to new life, where we proclaim that Jesus is alive and death is no longer the end.

As a result, to go on this journey, builds resilience and endurance in those who travel this way. As we look at our lives, the difficulties and challenges we might face, our Christian faith tells us that this is not the end instead change and new life are possible; indeed, that they will come.

The story of Christ’s death and resurrection takes us forward into a new life. The reality of his presence with us on the way helps us endure and persevere. The combination of the two brings hope for the future. Whatever we may experience in the here and now, ultimately Love wins.   

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The Danielson Famile - Lord's Rest.

Palm Sunday procession in the Ilford Recorder

Click here to read the Ilford Recorder's story about the joint Palm Sunday procession by St John's Seven Kings and St Paul's Goodmayes. In the story I say that the procession, “is a wonderful community event and it is a sign the churches in the local community are here and an active part of the community.”

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The Swell Season - Into The Mystic.

Why there's no faith without doubt

The Lent Course organised by the Seven Kings Fellowship of Churches is featured in the current edition of the Ilford Recorder.

Our Lent Course this year is entitled Build on the Rock: Faith, doubt - and Jesus! Based around Matthew 7.24 (Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock), the course starts by looking at faith and doubt. Is it wrong – or is it normal and healthy – for a Christian to have doubts? Is there any evidence for a God who loves us? We will hear from many witnesses. At the heart of a Christian answer stands Jesus himself. We consider his ‘strange and beautiful story’ and reflect upon his teaching, his death, his resurrection and his continuing significance.

The Course has five sessions: (1) Believing and doubting; (2) Jesus - our teacher; (3) Jesus - our saviour; (4) Jesus - conqueror of death; and (5) Jesus - Lord and brother. Produced by York Courses, the course comes with a good choice of wide-ranging questions designed to involve all members in lively discussion and also brings the thoughts of prominent Christian leaders into our own discussion group.

The Course Booklet has been written by best-selling author, Canon John Young. The Course CD contains five 14-minute radio-style starters for group discussion, with former BBC broadcaster Canon Simon Stanley putting questions to the participants: Bishop Richard Chartres (Bishop of London), Dr Paula Gooder and Revd Joel Edwards. Each session closes with a Reflection by Methodist minister David Gamble. Former Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, introduces the course.

Why do a York Course? Tens of thousands of people study a York Course each year:

"I like the format. Listening to the speakers on the CD helped to clarify my own thoughts as well as inspiring me with new ideas… The questions were challenging and well thought out. Altogether a very enjoyable course."

"York Courses are by far and away the best thought-out house-group material that I have come across. Excellent notes, a really useful range of questions, and stimulating audio contributions."

"Along with thousands of other Christians I have benefited greatly from participation in York Courses over the past few years, mainly as a group leader."

The Lent courses are organised by the Seven Kings Fellowship of Churches (SKFC) and will run at:

· 2.00pm on Tuesday’s at St John’s Seven Kings (11 March, 18 March, 25, March. 1 April, 8 April)
· 11.15am on Wednesday’s at St Peter’s Aldborough Hatch (12 March, 19 March, 26 March, 2 April, 9 April)
· 8.00pm on Wednesday at St John’s Seven Kings (12 March, 19 March, 26 March, 2 April, 9 April)

Our SKFC Lent Service will be at 8.00pm on Monday 14th April at Seven Kings United Free Church.

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The Call - I Still Believe.

St John's in the Ilford Recorder

There are three pieces in the Ilford Recorder this week that relate to St John's Seven Kings. I have written the Spiritual Life column which focuses on National Marriage Week and which mentions the Mothers' Union display that will be in the lounge of the St John's Centre during Marriage Week. 

St John's was one of the three churches that commissioned a painting from Henry Shelton, through commission4mission, as a retirement gift for Fr. Benjamin Rutt-Field in thanks for his ministry at St Paul's Goodmayes and within our cluster of churches. This painting was also featured in the Church Times.

Finally, the Recorder has a piece about the Sophia Course which began at St John's last night as part of the Sophia Hubs social enterprise project which is based in the building. we had an excellent session with an enthusiastic and inspiring group of people all wanting to utilise their skills and ideas for the benefit of the local community.

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Water into Wine Band - Stranger In This World. 

Continuing fight for step-free access at Seven Kings and Newbury Park stations

'After learning Crossrail is still searching for ways to fund step-free access at Seven Kings, campaigner Ron Jeffries, 80, said he feared he would never see lifts at the station in his lifetime.

Mr Jeffries, of Aldborough Hatch, said: “Redbridge will miss out on step-free access and I think that is wrong - I do believe that Seven Kings should be step-free.”

Mr Jeffries, chairman of residents’ community group Aldborough Hatch Defence Association, has campaigned tirelessly, with all three political parties, for Crossrail to rethink its plans for Seven Kings.

“I was not put at ease by Matthew White,” added Mr Jeffries. “I am not at all satisfied.
“We will keep the campaign going and we will not be giving up.”

Mark Kennedy, a committee member on the Seven Kings and Newbury Park Residents’ Association, echoed Mr Jeffries’ words and insisted the groups would “fight on”.'

Read the full story in the Ilford Recorder by clicking here.

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Over The Rhine - Meet Me At The Edge Of The World.

New beginnings and fresh starts

Here is my Spiritual Life column for today's edition of the Ilford Recorder:

Christianity is a faith which is all about new beginnings and fresh starts. Sometimes it is characterised by others as being a guilt trip but what Christianity actually teaches about guilt is to do with acknowledging our fallibilities in order to be honest with God so that forgiveness can by received and change implemented. The word we use for this is repentance which means a complete turn-around in our lives, a fresh start and a new beginning.
 

The start of a New Year is also about the potential for a fresh start and a new beginning. That is, in part, why we celebrate at New Year and why we make New Year's resolutions. The problem, of course, is that we all carry over into the New Year the issues and challenges that we experienced in the old year. If we weren't able to do in the old year the thing that we are now resolving to do in the New Year, simply moving from one year to the next is unlikely to be enough to enable us to make our resolution stick.
 

For Christians, though, we are not on our own when it comes to change. God's Spirit is within to help us make and maintain changes in our lives and (hopefully) our local Christian community or Church are also there to back us up and support us as we change.

Change is actually happening all the time, in us and to us. Change is normal, because we all need fresh starts and new beginnings all the time. This New Year, why not ask God for his help in making a fresh start and seek support from others around you, including your local Church?

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The Relatives - We Need Love.

Spiritual Life column

Here is my Spiritual Life column for this week's Ilford Recorder:

 

Maciej Hoffman paints huge expressionist canvases depicting scenes of trauma. His paintings depict the distress caused through conflict and he seeks to use his art to generate discussion among people of all faiths and none about the causes of conflict.

 

I am pleased to be able to work with him on an exhibition to be held shortly at Chelmsford Cathedral (21st - 23rd October, 7.45am - 9.00pm, ending 3.00pm on 23rd) which we are calling 'Deconstructing c o n f l i c t'. Our hope is that Maciej's images will help people see the folly and futility of war and violence.

 

As is clear in places of conflict within our world currently, violence begets more violence and creates a vicious cycle through which more and more people are hurt, maimed or killed. In this exhibition for One World Week, we want to say that there is a different and better way to live.

 

For me, that different and better way is exemplified by Jesus who sacrificed his own life into order that all people might live. Jesus acted non-violently to break the vicious cycle of violence enabling love and forgiveness to flourish in and through the lives of those who follow in his footsteps.

 

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Tom Jones - What Good Am I?

We've started - but we won't finish!

Here is some of the local coverage in the Ilford Recorder and Yellow Advertiser of last Saturday's photo-call at Newbury Park Station organised by Seven Kings and Newbury Park Residents Association (SKNPRA). My letter to the Mayor of London based on our campaign is below: 

Dear Boris,

You have a reputation for candour and non nonsense talk. I am writing to ask you to use some of your famous candour with planners on the transport system in London who have been consistently promising step-free access to residents in Newbury Park and Seven Kings at our local stations and then failing to deliver.

Transport planners have been playing cruel tricks on local residents over step-free access at local stations. First, at Newbury Park where work started and then stopped, later at Seven Kings where Crossrail promises were made, then broken. As Chair of the local Resident's Association, I call on you to ensure London's transport planners make good on these broken promises and deliver the step-free access that has repeatedly been promised to local residents.

Extensive preparatory work for step-free access at Newbury Park Station was carried out in 2009/10 as detailed at http://daps-ltd.co.uk/portfolio_item/newbury-park-station-step-free-access-design-and-build/. This work cost £3.5m, public money which will have been utterly wasted unless TfL complete what they began and deliver step-free access at this Station. 

At the time this work was cancelled, London Underground said: "The status of the Undergrounds step-free plans is very disappointing to us - after years of planning and development work." They also stated that "the enabling works which had taken place will as far as possible ensure future SFA routes can be preserved" in order that "These projects could be restarted in the future" (http://www.transportforall.org.uk/news/-64-million-cost-of-abandoned-step-free-tube).

These have proved to be weasel words because this project has not been restarted and, although work is happening to make certain stations step-free, this does not include Newbury Park.

This is not the first occasion that TfL have agreed to action in our local area only to later change criteria in order to, in effect, renege on earlier promises. Through our Residents' Association, local people are saying that we have had enough of this practice. The reasons why Newbury Park Station warranted step-free access in 2009/10 still stand and we call on you to ensure that TfL finish what they started. 

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Luxury - When Those That Are Not Do Become Those That Are.

Spiritual Life: To dance around one another in relationship

Here is my Spiritual Life column for the current edition of the Ilford Recorder:

Explaining the idea of the Trinity - three persons, one God - has always been a challenge to priests and preachers. The shamrock is one favourite illustration - three leaves, one stem - as is water - two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen forming one entity which can be a liquid, a solid and a gas.

My favourite image, though, is not of the form of the Trinity but of its dynamism and dynamic. That image is of a dance as the Greek word for the relationship of Father, Son and Holy Spirit - perichoresis - means ‘to dance around one another in relationship.’ Dance partners interact “within a rhythm which remains the same but in a continuous variety of movements.” At its best, you have people totally in tune with one another for the period of that dance.

This is what the united relationship of Father, Son and Holy Spirit is thought to be in the Christian faith and it means that at the very heart of God is a dynamic relationship in which a constant exchange of love is underway. We could call it the dance of love. Being in relationship with God means, for the Christian, being drawn into that constant, eternal exchange or dance of love. Jesus describes this when he says that he is in the Father and the Father in him. He then extends that same relationship to others too - I am in you and you are in me.

To really know love, Christianity suggests, we must be drawn into the dance of love which Father, Son and Holy Spirit share and which is at the very heart of God.

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Leonard Cohen - Dance Me To The End Of Love.

Easter coverage and services

This was our Easter coverage in the Ilford Recorder which provided a good opportunity to share something of what Easter means to Christians.

In common with many other churches, the Holy week and Easter Day activities and services at St John's Seven Kings were particularly well attended this year. 30 children enjoyed Easter crafts, stories and songs provided by our excellent team of helpers. 70 people attended our Good Friday Devotional Service, a considerable increase on the previous year.

On Easter Day our three services were attended by 194 people, again a significant increase on the previous year. Our curate, Santou Beurklian-Carter gave an excellent sermon at our 10.00am service using broken, hollow and full Easter Eggs for her visual aids while our choir led the worship with a well performed anthem and a new communion hymn by Lester Amann.

While posting about media coverage, Peter Banks and I have also been encouraged by the piece about The Secret Chord in the current edition of Notice Board which comes with The Month. Click here to see the article.  

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After The Fire - Starflight.

Of park benches and toilets

Seven Kings and Newbury Park Resident's Association features in the Ilford Recorder this week because we have donated a bench to Seven Kings Park. The bench, which has been donated from monies raised by SKNPRA through fundraising events, has been located alongside the path leading from the park to King George Hospital and the A12 alongside Happy Valley. This location was chosen as a useful resting point, alongside Seven Kings Water, on the walk to and from the hospital.

This is the second additional bench which SKNPRA has been able to obtain for the local community. The first is located in Aldborough Road South and was provided by the Council as part of our Living Streets project.

We will be returning to Seven Kings Park tomorrow at 2.30pm for the re-opening of the toilets in the Park. These were closed in 2011 as part of austerity cuts by the Council in the borough. SKNPRA led a campaign against their closure and has since worked with councillors and officials to enable their re-opening. Their reopening has been has been the result of a significant local campaign and much behind the scenes negotiation led by our membership Secretary, Mark Kennedy. We are therefore thrilled that the toilets are to be re-opened.

SKNPRA is organising a Community Information Day to be held on Saturday 18th May between 11.00am and 1.00pm in the community garden at St John's Seven Kings. This event provides an opportunity for community groups and those organisations providing services in the local community to promote their organisation and meet local people.

We will be promoting the event locally and St John's Church will also be holding a Plant & Table-top Sale in the St Johns Centre at the same time. The combination of these two events on a previous occasion - see http://joninbetween.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/creating-community-event-2.html - proved very successful.

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Deacon Blue - Here I Am In London Town.

Spiritual Life column

Here is my Spiritual Life column from today's Ilford Recorder:

'Bill Fay sings that “There are miracles / Everywhere you go.” What we might not then expect is for the song to continue, “I see fathers / Hold a little child's hand.” What Bill Fay celebrates in this song entitled ‘Cosmic Concerto (Life Is People)’ is the wonder of everyday life if we can but see it - seeds being sown by the wind to grow into trees; grandmas and grandpas blowing kisses into a pram; the infinite variation in the space of a human face.

Each moment we are alive is unique and unrepeatable. As another songwriter, Victoria Williams, puts it: “This moment will never come again / I know it because it has never been before.”

Simon Small has written that “Our minds find paying full attention to now very difficult. This is because our minds live in time. Our thoughts are preoccupied with past and future, and the present moment is missed.”

Jean Pierre de Caussade spoke about the Sacrament of the Present Moment. He meant by this God present in what is ordinary and mundane; there in life's daily routine. Simon Small has also written that “to pay profound attention to reality is prayer because to enter the depths of this moment is to encounter God.”

Regardless of whether we see God in the miracle of human existence, we can perhaps agree that, even though life also contains great suffering, there is real wonder, beauty and mystery to be found in everyday life.'

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Iona - Today.

The importance of how we travel

Think about this question. What is the most important part of a journey? The beginning, middle or end? Why we travel, where we travel or how we travel?

At Epiphany we focus on the journey made by the Magi in order to be able to kneel and worship the baby king Jesus. In the ancient world, Jupiter was the ‘king star’, and at the time of the birth of Jesus, Jupiter appeared in the night sky very close to Saturn, which represented Israel. If you were reading the sky you’d see ‘new king in Israel’.

That was the starting point for their journey but it didn’t give them exact directions. They didn’t know exactly where they were going on their journey. They knew they were going to find the new king in Israel but they had to trust as they travelled that they would be guided and led to find him. They clearly travelled a great distance and, obviously, didn’t have cars, trains or planes, so they would have probably travelled on camels. But the distance and effort didn’t stop them because meeting the child was so important.

When they arrived, they gave extravagantly to welcome Jesus with gifts, time, effort, the risk of danger, and humility. But their gifts pale next to Jesus coming to earth to show God’s love for us; Jesus came from heaven, eternity and majesty to earth, time and humanity. He went on an even more incredible journey to show us God’s love. After they had found Jesus the journey of the Magi began again as they were guided by God to return home by another route and, as T. S. Eliot makes clear at the end of his great poem about their journey, their lives were forever changed by the experience.

So, their starting point was important but it didn’t tell them how to find their way and when they did finally arrive, their arrival actually meant the beginning of a new journey. All of which means that how we travel may be as important as why or where we travel. That at least is what our Text for 2013 at St John's Seven Kings, taken from Matthew 6. 34, seems to say:
 

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”

Simon Small writes in ‘From the Bottom of the Pond’ that: “Our minds find paying full attention to now very difficult. This is because our minds live in time. Our thoughts are preoccupied with past and future, and the present moment is missed.”

But, he says, “Contemplative prayer is the art of paying attention to what is”: “To pay profound attention to reality is prayer, because to enter the depths of this moment is to encounter God. There is always only now. It is the only place that God can be found.”

This is very much what Jesus seems to be saying to us in Matthew 6. 34 and in his teaching on worry and anxiety found in Matthew 6. 24 – 34. 

When we are preoccupied with what might happen in the future, we are not living fully in the present and may well misunderstand or misinterpret what is actually going on. Jesus encourages us to live fully in the present because, as Simon Small says, that is where we encounter God.

When we genuinely encounter God in the here and now we know that his love and forgiveness surround us and that his Spirit fills us. As Jesus prayed in John 17, he is in us and we are in him. When we know this in our hearts in the here and now, we can relax because whatever happens to us we are accepted, forgiven, loved and gifted by the God who created all things and who will bring all things to their rightful end. We are held in the palm of his hands and, as Julian of Norwich put it, “all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well”.

Even in the difficult times, we can still know that this is true because, as our Text for 2013 puts it, God will help us deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

Jesus is saying that the more we live in the present and the more we encounter God’s love in the here and now, the less we will be anxious or worried. Prayer is able to help us do both things and therefore helps us to reduce our sense of anxiety or worry. Not because we have listed all our worries to God and believe that he will solve them all for us, but instead because, through prayer, we have encountered more of God’s love and, as a result, trust that he will be with us whatever comes our way. 

 

This is important because so much of our sense of dissatisfaction with our lives and the complaining we do about other people stems from our own worries and anxieties rather than what may or may not have happened or what others may or may not have done. Instead of focusing on other people and what we think they should or should not do or have done, we need to begin with ourselves and our relationship with God by giving our entire attention to what God is doing right now, and not getting worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. Then God is able to help us deal with whatever comes up, whether hard things or blessings, when the time comes.

We don’t know what 2013 will bring. Some predict an upturn in the economy, others a worsening. We can’t be sure and, of course, the future will be different for each of us. But, as Brian Davison reminds us in the current edition of the ‘Ilford Recorder’, “if the prospect of what lies ahead seems dark or threatening, remember the words with which King George VI reflected on the closing year in his 1939 Christmas broadcast. “I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied: ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.” (Minnie Louise Haskins).

Like the Magi, we can only travel in hope that we will be guided by God. So, “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”

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Julie Miller - By Way Of Sorrow.