The next Wesley Hall Quiz Evening is on Saturday 28 April – come along to exercise your brain, or just to have a laugh!
Contact us for more info and to book your team’s place. See you there!
‘The message about the cross doesn’t make any sense to lost people. But for those who are being saved, it is God’s power at work.’
1 Corinthians 1: 18
As we move our way through Lent and towards Easter the cross is a familiar sight and is seen as the most important and best-known symbol of Christianity. I have been doing a course about symbolism and creativity and it has been interesting to learn that lots of symbols we associate with a certain group were originally universal symbols that had very different meanings to what they do today. For example, the swastika, which we associate with Nazism, is actually an ancient symbol of spirituality and good luck.
Likewise, you may not be aware, but the cross has its origins thousands of years before Jesus. It is believed to have been around from the prehistoric period and represented the four elements, earth, air, water and fire. In the bronze age it is thought to have had some religious meaning relating to consecration, particularly in relation to burial. But also, in India it is a symbol of resignation, in Egypt it was a symbol of life and it can even be seen as a symbol of sexual union.
So how did this become the symbol of Christianity?
That’s obvious I hear you all say. It’s because Jesus died on a cross.
But there is some disagreement amongst scholars as to what the shape of the instrument of torture used in crucifixion really was. Some suggest it would have been a T shape and others just a single stake.
So where does this leave us?
Well maybe the most important thing is to ask ourselves what is the purpose of the cross for us? What is its meaning?
Hopefully we do not want to show the world a symbol of abuse and torture, even if part of Christianity is about recognising the horrific injustices in our world today and seeking to address them. Plus, that idea of embracing the four elements is a good reminder of part of our purpose as stewards of creation: to care for the earth. Also, that idea that the intersection of the two lines in the cross represents some form of union, maybe not so much sexual as spiritual. That it represents God and humankind becoming one in a way that does lead to new life in us and others.
May we not be at cross-purposes with the cross, the world or each other, but welcome the cross with all its symbolism and be creative.
May you take up your cross and follow its many purposes.
Blessings
Rev Dee
All God’s Creation is Very Good!On Friday 9 March we celebrated the Women’s World Day of Prayer 2018. The service had been postponed from Friday 2 March due to the difficult weather conditions, but it was great to see a wide range of people at the rescheduled service, from many local churches: Holy Trinity, St Augustine’s, St Saviour’s, St Philip Neri, the Grove Centre, Perry Rise Baptist, the New Testment Church of God and of course our sister church Forest Hill Methodist too.
The theme of this year’s service, from Suriname, was ‘All God’s Creation is Very Good!’ and there were readings, meditations and songs reflecting on how to care for and respect God’s creation – this planet. A slideshow about the country of Suriname played while several participants represented the wide range of cultures in readings supplied by the World Day of Prayer Suriname Committee. We sang a song and used prayer responses in the Sranam language, all backed by a lovely themed altar display.
A heri grontapu di Gado meki bun doro, dóro!
You are invited to a Fundraising Family Movie Night – dress the part, eat popcorn and ice cream, watch ‘The Sound of Music’ and sing along!
Saturday 24 February, 7pm for 7.30pm
Tickets: Adults £5 / Children £3
Contact us for more information and to book tickets.
The Wesley Hall Sunday Service details for March to May 2018 have now been added to the online calendar.
Included on the calendar are the unique activities for this very special time of year – the weekly Lent Group held at Forest Hill Methodist Church begins on Wednesday 21 February. All the Easter Services, along with Mothering Sunday (11 March) are listed.
As always, everyone is welcome to come and join in at any time.
The calendar also includes other events, such as the regular Theatre Club, Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Brigade meetings and our upcoming singalong film night on Saturday 24 February – always a lot of fun!
Take a look at the calendar and if there’s something you expect to see but don’t, or if there’s anything you’d like to find out more about, do leave a reply and we’ll get back to you.
Learning to say “No”February sees the start of Lent, which is traditionally seen as a time of saying “no” and giving up things. But really it is a time in which we renew our commitment to God and life, life in all its fullness. And that is a very positive step, but does also include the ability to say “no”.
When Jesus started his journey to the Cross and spent time in the wilderness being tempted, trying to work out what he should do and become, he may not have said the word ‘no’ but did have to turn away from what would prevent him from becoming who he was: God’s Son and our Saviour.
And for us to follow Jesus and become who we truly are, Children of God, then we too need to be able to say “no” in life affirming ways.
Not necessarily ‘no’ to chocolate during Lent but…
So, if you have to say “no” to anything you are asked to do, including roles within the Church, may it be a positive ‘no’, because you are concentrating on saying “yes” to other ways of serving God and loving others.
Jesus came that we might have life in all its fullness,
So, let’s say “no” to doubting and “yes” to belief!
May God bless us all with renewed love and life this Lent as we follow our saviour and our friend to the cross, which leads to resurrection and new life – Yes!
Rev Dee
The next Wesley Hall Quiz Evening is on Saturday 27 January – come along to exercise your brain, or just to have a laugh!
Contact us for more info and to book your team’s place. See you there!
