1 Kings 19:4-8
Ephesians 4:26-5:2
John 6:35, 41-51
Robin was leading the service while Andrea is away. In the King’s reading, Elijah had reached rock bottom: ‘It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life’. An angel visited Elijah, giving words of encouragement and sustainance that helped him to continue. Robin suggested that there are situations where each of us may provide an angelic word for someone or also receive an angelic word from someone we meet that gives encouragement and guidance when we are faced with the challenges of life. Listening was another theme of the sermon asking the challenging question do we listen to ‘interrupt’ or to ‘understand’?
In the gospel reading Jesus is judged in a negative way by those living in his local community when he claims to be the Son of God: ‘Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’? We often make judgements and assumptions about people and at times dismiss them and what they have to say. The actions and words of Jesus throughout the gospels show acceptance, love, care and the giving of value to all, including those whom others may exclude. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians describes such a community built on love.
At the end of the service after a short interlude of music , we repaired to the hall and garden for coffee, enhancing our time of fellowship.