Rev Matt iBlog

Acts chapters 10-11 God gives Peter a vision of a sheet descending from the heavens. Included in the sheet were some unclean animals. He told Peter, "what God has made clean, do not call common." Food is an important social and cultural symbol. What to eat, and with whom, establishes the boundaries between one community and another - especially when groups feel under pressure to conform to wider cultural norms. Both Helen and I have enjoyed eating the different food of all traditions since arriving in the circuit. We don't say unless it's a Yorkshire pudding we will not be eating. Here's the context from our Acts reading... Many Jewish writings from this period forbid table fellowship between Jews and Gentiles. But changing traditional boundaries is unsettling, even disturbing, as Peter discovered when he told his story in Jerusalem. Twice his retelling makes the point that God makes no distinction between what humans call 'c...

Is FEAR or DOUBT holding you back? Exploring this question, we can take comfort from the Passion narrative because it has much to say about individual stories of fear and anxiety. On Maundy Thursday, Peter is anxious that he should be washing Jesus’ feet through the sacrificial task of foot-washing. In Gethsemane Peter cuts off a guard’s ear and his response resulted to fear when he denies Jesus three times.   On Easter Sunday we celebrate that Christ is Risen. Resurrection Sunday celebrates the Easter mystery, we hear the story of the women finding the tomb empty, and the first words they are “Do not be afraid.” Themes of fear and doubt are throughout Easter and it is present even today… When you’re living with a mental health problem, or supporting someone who is, having access to the right information about a condition, treatment options, or practical issues is vital. Mind Charity ( www.mind.org.uk ) provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a m...