Tilehouse Street Baptist Church,
Hitchin Tilehouse Street Baptist Church,
Hitchin
OUTLOOK
Jesus told them another parable:
"The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took
and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked
all through the dough"
Matthew 13:33
Dear Friends
Death in Paradise [BBC]
“Death in Paradise”. One of those ‘easy-watching’ series that are very popular viewing on a Sunday evening. Beautiful scenery, loveable characters, a simple-enough plot and no sex, bad language or violence. Oh, except for the inevitable murder each week, of course! But always with its Poirot-style gathering of the suspects for the big reveal of the murderer (or murderers) at the end. Not for the first time has the comment been made that the island of Saint Marie is definitely not the place to visit if you value your life! So not really paradise at all.
In the majority of the Christian traditions around the world the joyful events of Easter Day have just been celebrated. The call and response, “Christ is risen. He is risen indeed, hallelujah!” has echoed from shore to shore once more proclaiming Christ’s victory over even death. As Paul wrote to the church in Corinth: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:54-5)
And so perhaps the next series of “Death in Paradise” should be renamed! Remember the ‘conversation’ Jesus had with one of the criminals crucified next to him, recorded in Luke’s gospel (chapter 23:39ff)? “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” To which Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” If there is death, then it is not Paradise. If it is Paradise then there is no death!
No matter how idyllic anywhere is here on earth, it can never truly be paradise. For all earthly life experiences death at some point. But that is not to what we are called. That is not what lies ahead for all who put their faith and trust in the one who declares, “…I am the living one. I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever.” (Revelation 1:18) The one whose rule and reign is known fully in paradise (or heaven).
But that rule and reign will also one day be fully known on earth. Which is why we pray throughout the year, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” And why I want to draw your attention to the next Christian festival just 50 days after Easter. The Feast of Pentecost. The day we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit on all God’s people. Because we have the opportunity again to join “a movement which unites more than a million Christians in prayer, in nearly 90% of countries worldwide, across 85 different denominations and traditions -so that friends and family, neighbours and colleagues might come to faith in Jesus Christ.”
From 9th May (Ascension Day to Pentecost) we will have the opportunity to join in with “Thy Kingdom Come” using both the Novena study resource (based on verses from the first three chapters of Revelation) and the Prayer Journal (encouraging different ways of praying). Copies for everyone have already been ordered! And if you want to know more now, then click on this link:
May this Easter season bring joy and hope into your world and then may you be inspired to take that joy and hope into the worlds of others.
Easter blessings,
Jane
It was a pleasure to welcome Rev Mary Moody, CBA Regional Minister as guest preacher on 17th March.
and we all sat down to lunch
