BH Bulletin Sunday 12 April 2020

12/4/2020

Thought for the Day by Rich Arnold
(Youth and Families Minister at Holy Cross)

Peace at Last! Easter Sunday. Luke 24:36
Peace. It’s one of those words we probably don’t use very often, and even less so understand what it really means.
We have a lovely children’s story book about a bear who can’t sleep. He longs to get some rest, but there’s so much noise and nuisance keeping him awake. The book is called ‘Peace at Last’, which the bear eventually manages to find (although only moments before the alarm clock goes off!)
That is often what we think peace is- no more noise and nuisance. If you’re a parent, you’re probably familiar with the kids-are-in-bed-now-relax-on-the-sofa moment: “ah…peace at last!”
But many of us will know there’s a bit more to it than that. As we look around the world, we know what peace would look like. No more pain. Pollution. Poverty. Pandemics.
As we look at our own lives, we know what peace would look like. No more anxiety. Loneliness. Frustration. Guilt. Sadness. Fear.
We all want this. We long for a time when we can say “Peace at last!”
But the above descriptions of peace are not the full picture. Peace isn’t just a right relationship with ourselves, with other people and with the world around us. In the bible, peace is first of all about us and God. Our sin cuts us off from God, so that we cannot enjoy friendship with him. True peace then, is sins forgiven and a restored relationship with the God who made us. It’s only when we know his peace that we can start to enjoy peace in any other sense of the word. And when we have that, we can look forward to the New Creation, enjoying peace perfectly forever.
On that first Easter morning, the angels said to the women probably the most exciting three words that have ever been spoken: “He has risen!” (Luke 24:6) But what difference does it make? Well, just a short while after, that same Risen Lord Jesus appears to his disciples- the very people who left him and who are now feeling anxious, lonely, frustrated, guilty, sad and afraid. (Luke tells us they are ‘troubled’ in v38). I think if I were Jesus, I would have yelled at them, making my feelings abundantly clear: “I can’t believe you deserted me when I was being crucified! Where were you when I needed you? I’m so disappointed”. But instead, the first words that come out his mouth are these: “Peace be with you” (v36). This is more than just a greeting (“hi lads, how’s it going?”). Jesus is saying that because he has risen, true peace is now possible. Sin is forgiven. So friendship – peace – with God is now a reality for those who trust in Jesus. It’s a reality that starts now and lasts forever. Only once we’ve received his peace, can we begin to enjoy peace with ourselves and others and the world around us. Only once we’ve received his peace, can we have any hope of enjoying it fully one day in the New Creation.
If you haven’t yet received that peace why not make today the day? Just look at what Jesus offers you!
If you are already trusting in Jesus, have you truly understood what you’re celebrating today? Because of the resurrection, you get to enjoy what we all long for. Today, you get to say with joy and thankfulness, “peace at last!"
He has risen! Hallelujah! Happy Easter everyone!
Rich

Easter Sunday
Phil Moon (Vicar)
I hope you're looking forward to the great Celebration of today, Easter Sunday, as much as I am.
Just a reminder that we have our two services online at 10.00 and 6.30. The 10.00 service will be an all-age service for all three of our churches (BH, Holy Cross and Goldstone), and for those who'd like a sermon aimed at adults, that will be available on our YouTube channel at 11.00. Just go to YouTube, search for Bishop Hannington Church and you'll find us. The aim is that we all enjoy the 10.00 service, celebrating Easter as one big church family, and then for those who would appreciate it, you can go to the sermon at 11.00 as well. It won't be available before 11.00, because the aim is for us all to meet at 10.00. We can't be together, literally, but we can still meet!
'See you' on Sunday,
Keep praying, stay close to Jesus,
Phil

Feast by Alex Forrest (Voluntary Staff Worker)

Feast , our group for people roughly in the student age bracket, has transferred to Zoom over the last few weeks. It’s been great to continue meeting every week as a group in this strange time. We are called Feast because we meet together to feast on food, feast on fellowship, and feast on scripture. Over Zoom, we each have to provide our own food, fellowship isn’t in the flesh, but the gospel remains the same. We still feed on scripture together, when technology allows(!), with one of our group leading a study each week. It’s so encouraging that we continue to engage with God’s word on a weekly basis, providing consistency for many of us in this unpredictable situation. We normally end our time together by sharing how we can be praying for each other. Obviously, some of us will be finding this new way of life we’re all experiencing particularly hard, so to be able to be honest with each other and ask for prayerful support is a real blessing. We’ve even had some previous members of Feast also joining us from places as far afield as Colombia, Germany, and North London!
Please continue to pray for Feast as we adapt to this new style. If you want more information please don't hesitate to contact me.
Alex Forrest.

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