The Gospel in Chairs

We have been challenging ourselves to consider the Cross. We hadn’t realised how controversial this might be especially since some of us had been brought up with the story.

If we are honest, it sort of mixes  in with the Christmas story, Santa and the Easter Bunny. We certainly sing about it with passion and know its benefits but have we explored its depths and are we accepting a true revelation? Has the story maybe become ineffective in our lives or even too painful to think too much about?

Sometimes we need to consider other people’s understanding but in our exploration we discovered a treasury of experiences amongst us each building together to a precious revelation.

Here is someone’s take that might stir us to reconsider and deepen our understanding even if we don’t accept his theory.

 

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The sound of sheer silence

Source: The sound of sheer silence

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One, two; one, two, three; one, two, three, four…

M Emlyn Humphries's avatarM Emlyn Humphries

How often are we told that the hope of the world is to be found in the local church? Bill Hybels is a proponent of this view and as an idea it’s become currency certainly in the church I attend. For me its is true when Christ is found in its midst and people encounter God not in the words but in the everyday lives of those gathered – people see that the church isn’t out there but in their back yard – local.

When I recently heard the idea at the church I attend I had to pause as I didn’t feel the gathering I was in was very local to me. It certainly was a church gathering I am a member of – I was connected to the people in worship and the town is admirably served by the church members. I reasoned that maybe the village I…

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Church Meeting: a Vision from August 2015

There’s lots to share, plan and celebrate.

We will cook a Chilli and bake some potatoes. Bring salads and puddings to share! See you at the Chapel to eat from 7:30 pm.

The Church Meeting will start around 8:15 pm and everyone is welcome to attend. So we have enough food let us know you are coming or bring some extra food.

The Church Meeting is where we lay out the plans for the gathering and the buildings and accept new members to the Meeting.

I see us as a local church at the heart of the Takeley community; a place of prayer and renewal for all who are on a journey with God. My heart is that we are place of belonging where we can become who God created us to be – God’s beloved in Christ Jesus.

Takeley Congregational Church is a community of communities: the school, the village and those from the area who are on a particular journey. Part of our worship, I offer, is the way in which we care for the land and buildings God has given us. This draws us together to meet in the monthly Church Meeting, to celebrate our communities as one community and for some, to commit to membership of Takeley Congregational Church.

M Emlyn Humphries

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Out there.

M Emlyn Humphries's avatarM Emlyn Humphries

Jesus teaches that it is better that he leaves the disciples, enabling the Holy Spirit to come (John 16: 4 – 15). He proclaims a time when worship will be true because it is in spirit and truth not in Jerusalem (John 4).

And this freedom came 50 days after Jesus’ death. His followers received the Holy Spirit on the Day of Jesus’ resurrection (John 20:19 – 23). Jesus had prepared them for the coming of the Holy Spirit in his teaching and, after a time of revelation and healing, on the day of his ascension, he spoke to his friends, ordering them to wait for an immersion and washing in the Holy Spirit they had received (Acts 1). I believe, just as the baptism of John prepared the disciples for the ministry of Jesus, his ministry had been preparing them for this outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The waiting ended on…

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