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New Chapter (21 September)

New chapter

And so, the period of national mourning following the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II has come to an end. The flowers will gradually cease to be laid at royal palaces, government officials and television presenters stop having to wear black and YouTube will no longer have around the clock coverage of ‘The Queue’. I am conscious, however, that we are now living in a new chapter of this country’s history – we have a new Prime Minister (remember that day two weeks ago?!) and we have a new King. Things will look different.

The month of September often signals the start of ‘new things’; a new meteorological season, a new school year, young people moving away from home for the first time as they begin university (as Gale reminded us in last weeks Thought for the Week), new initiatives beginning in church, new ministries being taken up as induction services take place. For us as an association, this week signals our Week of Prayer with the title ‘Exploring New Ground’, as we reflect and pray around the themes of planning, preparing, perspective, perseverance and partnership. I would encourage you to get involved, either by attending one of the prayer meetings across the EBA or using the materials written.  What does it look like for us as individuals, as churches, as an association to explore new ground, even when there is no clear direction or we’re unsure of what the future will look like?

Throughout the new, changing and somewhat unstable times we find ourselves to be in, I am continually drawn back to that simple declaration in Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” On Sunday, at the church I was preaching, we sang those words written by Vicky Beeching:

Everlasting God,

the years go by, but You’re unchanging.

In this fragile world,

You are the only firm foundation.

Always loving, always true,

always merciful and good, so good.

Yesterday, today, and forever,

You are the same, You never change.

Yesterday, today, and forever,

You are faithful, and we will trust in You.

Whatever the days ahead look like for you, wherever God may be leading, my prayer is that we would each be firmly fixed to our Cornerstone, Jesus Christ; the one who never changes, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.