Yesterday the Congregational Federation had its national Assembly in Colchester and for those that attended I am sure we gained much from being together in person (still feels like a privilege after those years of restricted gatherings). For anyone watching via the Live Stream I hope you were able to feel connected to the wider Congregational family (recording available - in due time - on our Congregational Federation YouTube Channel). We are a diverse group of independent churches dotted around the UK but we rally around the common desire to know Christ and to make Him known. During the last twelve months I have been preparing in prayer and study for the new task ahead of supporting our individual churches, the Federation’s activities and staff.
My reflection today uses the lectionary readings which seem very appropriate to the theme for my year as President of the CF, ‘Hear the Word of the Lord’. Amazingly, one of today’s readings I had also shared as President-Elect at last year’s Assembly in Taunton.
“Blessed are those whose delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water which yield their fruit in its season...”(Ps. 1).
The second lectionary reading, from Acts, is also timely as the disciples are seeking the mind of Christ to choose who should replace Judas as part of the Twelve. The disciples, like us, were a diverse group of people and in proposing candidates for the lots their criterion was simple:
“So, one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us – one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection” (Acts 1:21-26).
Therefore, combining both passages, today’s message is a reminder to us that our faith in God is rooted in Scripture within a personal relationship through the Spirit with Jesus Christ, the Word become flesh.
The disciples’ close-knit group, graduates of the University of Life with Jesus and versed in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), would very soon disband. Their intensive discipleship training over, the Gospel would take them into Judea and Samaria, into Europe and the heart of the Roman empire and beyond (for more on this read ‘Apostle’ by Tom Bissell).
In all our different regions of the UK we are similarly called to preach the Gospel, through our various community outreach activities, from our pulpits and in our private lives. In so doing we are following those who were motivated by what they had seen of Jesus confirming their Scriptures. The result was “the word of God spread, the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7). But there was opposition too and one of the appointed deacons of the Jerusalem church, Stephen, became the first martyr of the Christian faith. In spite of persecutions that followed, because of the power of the Gospel, “the word of God continued to increase and spread.” (Acts 12:24). May we see a growth of passion to hear the word of the Lord this coming year. “Sanctify them in the Truth Thy Word is Truth” (John 17:18).
Elisabeth Sweeney-Smith
Comments