Welcome
|
Welcome to the Atlantic Coast Cluster web site We are living in strange times, and we are permitted to open our churches for private prayer and worship. Currently there are no Sunday Services being held in the cluster, one line services are aviable, via zoom or on the audio page of this site. If you wish to obtain the zoom link for Sunday worship please email atlanticcoastcluster@btinternet.com if you know of someone who has not got internet access then the daily service can be I will contine to post things that I have found helpful below as well as the Sunday Reflection
above is a photo the blessing which is in my hall, the celtic blessing, Useful links From the Times - Ways to Improve your Mood A 3 minute meditation +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-++-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-++-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ Reflection for 3rd Sunday of Easter Reflection It has been an odd week. A week where the constructs of my understanding of reality, of what is, have been challenged. What I believed to be true, has had to be re written. It has been a rather challenging week. Now, what on earth is she on about! You may be thinking and what has it got to do with the continued Easter theme of Jesus’s resurrection appearances. Well, a lot really. We make decisions, create our reality based on what our senses tell us now, and what they have told us before, our own knowledge, and sometimes we just interpret things wrongly, because we do not have sufficient information, we do not know the whole picture. To use Paul’s words, we see only in part. Those disciples were also only seeing in part. When Jesus arrives, just after the disciples who had met on the Emmaus Road had arrived back and were telling stories of meeting him and then there, he is and the gathering and they are full of shock, surprise and fear. Jesus is back with them, but they know he died. They know, no one can survive crucifixion, but here he is. So, what is he? Well, if you are dead, and people see you, the only thing that they can be is a ghost. Now, we may or may not believe in ghosts, but they were culturally accepted at the time of Jesus. So, Jesus knows that is where their reality is heading, he knows what conclusion is being drawn. He knows that ghosts are non-corporeal, that they had no physicality to them. They could not be touched and could not eat and so his actions are based on creating a new reality for his followers. Not a ghost but a resurrected body. With real corporal, physical that can be touched and can touch. So, his request for food is about defining the new reality that is dawning for his followers. His blessing of peace to them, is to help them to stop being fearful and anxious about this new reality. So what for us. What does this resurrection story of Jesus offer to us. Well I think there is something in the way Jesus helps his followers find a new reality, a new perspective on things. When he arrives, his presence was terrifying and disturbing and yet in the end there is peace. We have found ourselves living in disturbing and somewhat terrifying times. What we trusted and understood has been shaken. We too need to see with a new perspective, see a new reality and that can be difficult and challenging, but allowing Jesus to be at the centre of it, does mean we can share in his gift of peace. The fact is life will always be challenging and at times difficult and scary, but that does not stop Jesus from being present with us and he offers freely to share his gifts of peace and assurance with us, if we trust in him. My prayer for us all, that is times of challenge and change we be able to trust in him who can always give us a new perspective and his blessing of peace and to reiterate the words of our collect today
Risen Christ,
St Cubertus by Sue Parkington “Tis closed”, the old man said, “Locked and cold within”, ‘Why’s that?’I asked ‘I can’t make sense of thee’. “Tis the virus; and the Bishops, So they say, They’m scared we might get sick. I’m only ninety three” ‘Let’s chat outside a while’ I said, Though raining heavily. “No good”, he said, then added, “Just come along with me, ‘Tis cosy in the south porch, And sheltered from the breeze”. And so we shared our crib there, Saffron bun and mug of tea. Keeping social distancing! A friend and company.
Precious Life (An Acrostic for Easter Time 2020) by Liz Cleves Perhaps we are listening, and Remembering what is dear to us Each of us recollecting Spring times, and the promise of nature bringing its gifts Conscious too that the beautiful Earth is suffering from our ‘overload’. In the morning I listen to the robin and the wren guarding my garden, and Out early I see the mighty sun lift over the horizon Unfettered and free in it’s course. Softly I give thanks for all in my care and all that I receive.
Let me give thanks In every way let me treasure my life and all that is dear to me Fearing only fear itself and Enjoying all while I may.
|
