On the 11th July, I did a talk in church, it was based on  Colossians 1 v 1-14.   When writing a talk for a Sunday service I always try to find a life experience which can highlight what the reading is getting at - it is not always easy, and sometimes I cannot find anything which is really appropriate, so I look for help on the internet and see how others have explained the reading.

The reading mentions prayer, our role in furthering Gods Kingdom, working for the common good. This  made me think of so many things, but mainly about my personal prayer life, the prayer life of friends and the prayer life of those who attend our Church, the reason being  I have spoken to people who tell me they find it hard to pray - I truly understand what they mean, and many, many people tell me that once they have thanked God for everything, they don’t know what else to pray for, again I can understand this as well.  Sometimes we feel as though we are taking a shopping list to God, not just for ourselves but everyone and every situation we care about, even those we do not know - the peace keeping force, government, councils etc. etc.

Reading Colossians, has helped me in some ways, because I have delved into what prompted Paul to write this letter.  He was under house arrest, possibly chained to a guard in order to prevent his freedom, but to Paul this was prison, albeit not a prison as known to us.  He was concerned for the people of Colossae because he had heard they were beginning to bring non Christian teachings into the Christian faith, this was a mega concern for him.  He began his letter by informing the people he was praying for them, and he was a messenger of God spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ, refreshing their memories that this Jesus was— a man born for our salvation, a man who died on the cross for our sins, a man who rose from the dead, taking the sting out of death and ascending into heaven in order for the Holy Spirit to descend on all who believe Jesus to be the Son of God - powerful stuff but initially hard for us to completely grasp, how can  someone we had never met die upon a cross for us - I can only describe this in one word ’Awesome’.  But during the verses Paul also keeps encouraging us because he was praying,  asking God to guard, guide and strengthen those who were Christians . Part of what he writes is:

 Being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. Colossians 1:11-12 (Again, powerful stuff.)

I feel the whole reading, not just verses 11-12 are relevant to us today at St. John’s, we need to hold on to the fact it is God we are serving, it is His church and through His grace and our persistence in working to spread the Gospel He will continue to hold us in His loving care - I personally, feel encouraged at St. John’s for all the highs and lows of the past months without a vicar, we have been blessed with so much positive action. Let us all unite in prayer for Jesus’ love to continue to enrich us and flow into the community in which we live.

With love

Carole Gx