First Sermon, Lent - Faith Journey

Robert asked me some time ago if I would tell my faith journey during Lent, originally I said no but in a moment of weakness over the last couple of weeks I agreed. So Here I am standing here in front of you all.
Not all journeys are very exciting and mine isn't I don't suppose that much different from most peoples. I'm sure we have at some point shared the same feelings, doubt, forgiveness. I have not had a religious experience in the sense of visions and burning bushes but some where along my path God has spoken to me and continues to speak to me in a quiet unsuspecting way.
I did not come from a religious family; I did not attend church every week. I was baptised here at All Saints some years ago.
My first recollection of church was attending Sunday School when I was very young. The church was on the opposite side of the road from where I used to live and all I remember going for is the sweets :o)
But when did my faith journey begin I'm not to sure?
I try delve deep into my memory and I can recall certain things that turned me away from God but I can't really remember when or how I began to believe in God. I must have believed though because how can you reject God if you don't believe? I rejected God for a considerable part of my life.
I'm going to go back to when I started secondary school - I was given a Gideon Bible (maybe this was when I first met God?)
I was at a very good school, Stretford Grammar and I enjoyed the first couple of years. My favourite lesson was Religious Education - I actually came top of my class in this subject.
I enjoyed learning about this amazing man called Jesus doing amazing things. (maybe this was when I first met God?)
I went to church with scouts every month - I was in Quest, down the road at the time. I enjoyed attending and joining in with the activities, doing my badges.
As I said the first couple of years were good and then things went a bit pear shaped, I was 13 (1978) I got in trouble with the police - not once but twice, school work deteriorated, I hated going to school, life didn't feel very good at this time. I felt I had failed everyone, my family, my friends lots of people, I failed myself. I remember some very scary moments - maybe I could be taken away, you never know with police and courts. You feel very unsupported and agree to all sorts of things. Moments I didn't cope with very well and have stuck with me ever since.
I believed that God didn't love me, how could he, why would he for these things I had done previously. I didn't even think about being forgiven at this stage or want to be forgiven.
I can see this with the story of the young Samaritan women by the well in today's gospel, "How is it that you a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria? Samaritans were the lowest of society according to the Jews and this is how I felt.
Over the following years I had a lot to do, working, setting up a home with Jackie, the births of Luke Rebecca and Bethany, raising them, and all these events make me who I am. These were busy times and I did not have much time for God, an easy excuse not to deal with anything. I'm sure he was around though and it was up to me whether I listened or not and for the most part I did not. If God was testing me at this time I failed at most things.
I did Sometimes when I did go to church I felt comfortable and at ease and i would be ok for a while and then the doubts came back and I left again. I did enjoy the comfort of a church but for me it wasn't enough, I was riddled with guilt.
Sometimes I did feel that God loved me then just as quick that feeling left and guilt returned. I felt I was a bad person. To better myself I volunteered a scout leader which lasted for almost 20 years.
I enjoyed scouting and it did provide a level of comfort but was it what God wanted me to do? That and other questions constantly in my mind never getting answers or maybe I never got the answer I thought I wanted..
I was very confused. I was listening to the voices, whose voice? I know now it was not always Gods voice. These thoughts that say I was bad or God doesn't want me, I thought it best to ignore them - that was the easy option. I didn't have to face up to anything, ignore them and they will go away.
1991 My gran died, this was really the first death I had known that really affected me personally, my gran was very close to me, I remember that she prayed (maybe this was when I first met God?), I remember her rosary that she used very well and I have had one for a good few years now. I wouldn't be without it. My grans death was very sad, she died of cancer. Why does God make people suffer like that? More questions for God. I have known other people to die and death is very sad but to now know that life isn't wasted and now I live for the promise of eternal life.
.
One of the questions that my Grans death brought to mind was " Why would God let me into heaven when I died?" I know my gran would go to heaven.
Well I wasn't going to heaven or at least God had an excuse not to let me in and I knew I had to make God change his mind.
I believed some of me was doing what God wanted but there was a proportion of me that wasn't. I wanted to change this bit. I needed to be a whole person
That was my life before and it was about to change.
It was a pleasant Thursday in February 2005 and this is the beginning of my new life. I remember I had been in some intensive deep conversations with God prior to this particular day. Jackie can vouch for the sleepless nights tossing and turning debating my life with God.
When I woke up I had a wonderful feeling - I knew that God did love me no matter what I had done or how I had lived my life and that I was forgiven, I had a nice warm fuzzy feeling.
I believed His son Jesus had died so that I could be saved. Now I think that is pretty awesome. I mean would you let your son or daughter die to save someone else? It was a very strange feeling indeed it was like everything had been placed in order like when you actually finish that jigsaw. I knew I had to change, I had to listen.
It was like everything came clear to me that morning and I knew I had to do something about it. I needed to answer God and tell him I wanted to change my life and I wanted to let everyone know.
I had a shower, got dressed and got in the car. Drove around the corner and stopped. Sitting in the car I called Jackie at work and told her I was sat outside the rectory and was about to go and asked to be confirmed - OK She said, it's took you this long. I knocked on the door, a young(ish) man opened the door, are you the vicar? and I asked to be confirmed now, he looked at me, kept me on the step while I strarted to tell him, then Robert invited me in to the rectory and after 2/3 hours of chatting I left.
I was back in the church, it was different this time, after all these years it now felt right. As the Samaritan women didn't understand all she had to do was ask, ask I did and received living water and now I have tasted this water I am more thirsty than ever.
There were no confirmation classes for adults, there wasn't much time before the next service for confirmation, oh dear everything was falling apart again but God must have been watching and decided I would do my confirmation class with the children and I would be confirmed at the next service in Manchester cathedral. Luke was also confirmed at the same time and it was a very proud day for us both.
On my confirmation day I left my old life and I am now feel guided by the Holy Spirit and I am More aware God is now at work in my life and with me on this journey.
I know some people that have made this profession of faith in Jesus but unfortunately their lifestyle remains self centered and Godless as before, I want to change and I know God doesn't want me to return to my old life.
It's not easy I'm sure you will agree. I can understand some people failing, I wish somebody told me that to live for God instead of myself is a change of seismic proportion, it isn't easy at all , everyday is a challenge but a challenge I enjoy trying to achieve.
I look at my life now my concerns have changed and continue to change, I am more aware of the surrounding world, I am more concerned for the people, family, friends, people I don't even know. I try to love more, I try not to judge straight away, I try to understand others needs and I have a church and a community of extended friends and family.
My journey has not finished it has just started on a new path, it's exciting, I have no idea where I am going or what will happen. It is my faith and trust in God that sees me through. My initial asking of God has lead to me grow spiritually and able to worship in spirit and truth.
I have an analogy for you, I see my journey like the life cycle of a caterpillar, it may work for you.
The caterpillar through its journey sheds it skin, eats and eats more then sheds it skins again and then one day, the caterpillar has no idea why or when but it forms a chrysalis and after a short period of time hatches from the chrysalis into a magnificent butterfly.
Can you see each new experience of God I receive and change another layer of me is shed, then I thirst and hunger for more and shed another layer, throughout my life I will shed more layers eventually revealing a a person that God wants me to be not what I want to be.
Hopefully you can see the similarities, it works for me.
As you talk to God and ask God , the closer you become the more receptive to Gods voice you will be and the more you will receive.
God has a plan for me and I see the doors he opens for me that makes things happen, not always what I expect. I feel I am a happier/better person because God is in my life, I still have a long way to go, I still fail but when I do fail I ask God to help me so that I can put it right for next time. I know one day I will look back at my journey again and see what a wonderful changes have happened.
I hope I have inspired someone else here to tell others there journey, on a recent evangelist course I attended they said the best way to bring people to God is to tell your story so over lent take some time to sit down and write your journey out, you will find events may not have happened quite as you thought and there will be some other significant events that you forgot about - try it.
It is the best story to tell, they are our stories.
Amen.

Trip to Germany - Mainz

The view from my hotel window, you can see The Dom in the distance.

St. Martin Cathedral (in German Mainzer Dom, sometimes Der Hohe Dom zu Mainz)

Mainz Cathedral is predominantly Romanesque in style, but later exterior additions over many centuries have resulted in the appearance of various architectural influences seen today. It comprises three naves and stands under the patronage of Saint Martin of Tours. The eastern quire is dedicated to Saint Stephen.
The interior of the cathedral houses tombs and funerary monuments of former powerful Electoral-prince-archbishops, or Kurfürst-Erzbischöfe, of the diocese and contains religious works of art spanning a millennium. The cathedral also has a central courtyard and statues of St. Boniface and The Madonna on its grounds.



The Dom Well

Hello

It's taken some time but I have finally got around to sorting out my blog, welcome.

Here is a picture of Luke, Rebecca and Bethany, don't they look angelic :o)

The original blog is being moved so all sections are expanding.

You'll find all sorts of things in this blog, interests, family events and thoughts to name a few.

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Intercessions 14/8/07

Loving God, We pray for the world that you have made. We pray for people in places where there is hardship ........., injustice ............, and war.............. . We pray for organisations and individuals working with the poor of the world ............. , for those fighting injustice ........... and those striving for peace ............. .
Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.
Loving God, We pray for your Church especially our own clergy in Stretford................ . May they be guided to do what is right and to exercise their power for the benefit of others. We pray for your church throughout the world. May it learn to do good, seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphans and plead for the widows……..
Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.
Loving God, We pray for our own country ............... . We ask for wisdom for its leaders and for peace and wholeness for its people.
Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.
Loving God, We pray for people we know and love ................................. . We pray for the people we have met today and the work we have done and that it will bring us closer to you…………….
Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.
Loving God. We pray for your loving hand to stretch out and bring comfort, care and healing to those known to us to be sick in mind, body or spirit…… We also pray that you will sustain the faith and hope of those who are lonely, oppressed and anxious.
Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.
Loving God. We pray for those that we love and see no longer………. We also pray for those recently bereaved, especially we pray for the family of Gerard Michael Tobin who was shot dead this week and Garry Newlove killed protecting his family home and hope that the light of God’s coming may dawn on all those who live in darkness.
Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.
Loving God, We thank you that you hear and answer all our prayers. Help us to trust you and show us how we can be used to answer your own prayers and those of others. We lay down these prayers in the name of Jesus. Amen
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ Amen.

Intercessions Sun 31/7/07

Heavenly Father, Lord of time and space, we acknowledge your creation for the wonder that it is and that in this small corner you have given us a special place within it. We know this because you sent Jesus to offer us the chance to be a part of your kingdom here on Earth and through him to have life eternal.
Hear us as we ask for those things which trouble our hearts and of others the world over who also acknowledge you as their Lord.. We pray for your Church, founded by ordinary people with extraordinary faith and courage. We ask that that same faith and courage be granted to your church today that it may stand as a beacon amongst so many of the ills we see in our society and the wider world.
Bless the work of our church here at All Saints’ and that of other churches in Stretford, that with your grace and through the power of your spirit folk may be drawn to the truth of Christ’s gospel as preached week by week. Support those who work to ensure that our churches are used in every possible way in serving their communities and we pray for our ministers that they may be sensitive to the communities needs.
Lord in Your mercy. - 'Hear our prayer’We pray for peace in your world. Let that process start in our own hearts where we seek only your peace, that which is indeed beyond human understanding. In the world beyond our doorstep we see, through the media, the conflict and turmoil between different ideologies, between different faiths, between the haves and the have-nots, between East and West and the list seems endless and self-replicating. We pray that peace, real peace, YOUR peace is seen as the only long lasting solution and in the meantime we earnestly pray for those who work for peace and reconciliation in all its forms and situations that they know they are doing your will.We give thanks for the release of hostages like Alan Johnston and Margaret Hill but we especially pray for the countless other, less well known, victims and for their anxious families.We remember our service personnel posted overseas and their families. We are only too aware of the mounting list of deaths and casualties and pray for lasting political solutions that will bring an end to hostilities.Lord in Your mercy. - 'Hear our prayer’We pray for this our nation, caught up in fear of terrorist attacks. Help us all to hold on to those values in our society that uphold justice and freedom within the law. We live in a nation built on Christian principles and values, help us to ensure that now in our mainly secular society they are not devalued or lost altogether. We remember our emergency services, first on the scene and at the forefront of danger. Give them Lord the knowledge, skill and courage to serve all our people at their time of need.We remember those families caught up in the recent flooding, now finding that their lives are put on hold whilst they establish how they are to rebuild homes and even communities. Be with all those Lord who face difficulty and uncertainty in their lives whatever the cause.Lord in Your mercy. - 'Hear our prayer’Lord Jesus, comforter and healer to those in both physical, mental and spiritual need, we bring before you those known to our congregation here, or to us personally, who are in need at this time. We name them in our hearts in a moment of silence or out loud and are emboldened to ask that your healing touch may be felt in their lives (silence).All these we hold up to you and commit to your loving care. Lord in Your mercy. - 'Hear our prayer’We thank you Lord for the opportunities in the life of our church to offer support and comfort to the bereaved. And so we pray for those in our midst and the wider community who face that pain of grief at the loss of a loved one; for we can in confidence claim that: -Jesus Christ is the Light of the World, a light which no darkness can quench. We remember before God those who have died and have lit candles to symbolise the light of Christ which eternally shines and brings hope.
In silence we remember………You turn our darkness into light; in your light shall we see light.Lord in Your mercy. - 'Hear our prayer’A final prayer/meditation for ourselves: In the story of Simon of Cyrene, Jesus accepted the service of Simon to carry his physical burden for him.

How willingly would jesus also permit you to carry the cross? He calls but you hear him not; He invites you but you decline.

What a reproach, to bear the cross reluctantly

Grant us each the grace to gladly bear one another’s burdens

O Jesus! Whosoever does not take up your cross and follow you, is not worthy of you. Behold, we join you in the Way of your Cross; we will be your assistants, following you bloody footsteps, that we may come to you in eternal life. AmenMerciful Father, “Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen”.

Intercessions - Tuesday 10/4/07

Intercessions - Tuesday 10th April

Let us pray to God the Father,
who has reconciled all things to himself in Christ

Lord, hear us
Lord graciously hear us

We pray for peace among the nations, that God may rid the world of violence and let peoples grow in justice and harmony, we pray especially for those engulfed in fighting in Iraq.
we pray for the government of Iran to use Nuclear power for good and not evil.

Lord, hear us
Lord graciously hear us

We pray for those who serve in public office, that they may work for the common good, especially we pray for the officials in Iran that they use their nuclear knowledge for good and not evil.

Lord, hear us
Lord graciously hear us

We pray for Christian people everywhere, that we may joyfully proclaim and live our faith in Jesus Christ, especially we pray for those working in ministry let them be guided by your Holy Spirit

Lord, hear us
Lord graciously hear us

We pray for those who suffer from hunger, sickness or loneliness, that the presence of Christ may bring them all that they need, especially we pray for those providing support, shelter and food to the people who have lost their homes in the recent Tsunami in the Solomon Islands.
We also pray for those that are on our own pew sheet and we ask that you stretch out your hand to bring comfort and peace.

Lord, hear us
Lord graciously hear us

In a moment of silence (or out loud) we pray for those that are close to us and need our prayers and those that we no longer see but remember……..

Let us commend ourselves and all for whom we pray to the mercy and protection of God

Merciful Father, accept these our prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.