Parish of Walton-on-Thames
St Mary with St John

From the Vicar - March 2010

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Journey with Jesus this Lent

This time last year a number of people from the parish were on pilgrimage in the Holy Land. Until one has made such a journey, it is hard to imagine how powerful it is to walk where Jesus walked and to see vistas that Jesus saw. In terms of place and physical geography, it is as close as we come to walking with Christ.

There is, however, another way to walk with Jesus, and that is through our life of prayer, Bible reading and discipleship - in other words, through the things that are at the heart of our Deepening Faith course, which comes to its climax this month with a series of sermons and home group studies on Jesus, on what he taught, why he died, and the difference he can make to our lives.

That's why, when I was compiling the material for our Deepening Faith course, one of the first decisions I took was to change the order of the Trinity. Not, you understand, in any theological sense - so no need to write to the Bishop! - but rather that, for once, it seemed more sensible to finish up with our consideration of Jesus as we journey through March towards our annual commemoration of his Passion on Palm Sunday.

Earlier in Deepening Faith the study groups spent some time with a number of images of Jesus, from wonderful CMS resource called 'The Christ we share'. That leads me to wonder what it would be like if we spent the time we normally dedicate to a Sunday morning sermon thinking together about 'The Jesus we know'. I'd be intrigued to learn the range of perceptions and images of Jesus that we carry as a church family.

The one thing I would be confident of, however, is that each of us would find our own 'default setting' for Jesus growing in the light of the insights of our fellow Christians. And that's as it should be, for our working picture of Jesus is always going to be less than complete. There is always more.

St Paul writes, 'I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection' (Philippians 3.10). This March, I encourage each and every one of us to have the same aim.

So this year, will you make as much of this 'Journey with Jesus' as you can, and make it a priority? We can do this together by coming to hear the Deepening Faith sermons, or by reading them on-line or in hard copy; by continuing in one of the study groups, as we explore aspects of Jesus' life and ministry; by reading one or other of the many Lent books available at this time; by reading one of the gospels; and then comes Holy Week!

This year we are privileged to have Bishop Christopher leading us through the latter part of this journey, as he joins us in Walton for much of Holy Week. He will preside at the Maundy Thursday evening service, and will wash the feet of twelve members of the congregation. He will be at St John's for the Good Friday Family Service, before coming on to St Mary's to lead our Three Hours meditation. Then on Easter Day, he will preside at our 6.00 am Dawn Service, on the day when we celebrate Christ's resurrection victory over death and sin.

We may not all - yet - have been able to go on a Holy Land pilgrimage. But we may all 'Journey with Jesus' in the places where live and move and have our being. For Christ's call comes to us there also: 'Follow me'.

Yours in Christ,

Charles Stewart

February 2010

Information:
Charles Stewart
Last changed:
7 March 2010

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