The life of God
“Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
John 16:25-28
There is a huge difference between two activities which can seem superficially similar: teaching about something, and speaking out of something. No matter how well we may have mastered a subject, if we can only speak about it, it will not inspire confidence in our listeners. On the other hand, what we can say out of our own experience will always reach their hearts.
Perhaps the greatest example of teaching ‘out of’ comes in the Farewell Discourses, words that John places in the context of the Last Supper, but which seem as well to belong to the sphere of the teachings of the Resurrected One. Far from dry instruction about the nature of God and our relation to the spiritual world, the words draw us into the glowing heart of love which is the core of all being: the Trinity. And as we allow the healing stream of words to flow over us, even if we can hardly understand them conceptually, the experience can grow: Christ has restored us to communion with this love.
Tom Ravetz
Please note that there will be a Servers’ Meeting on Sunday at 11.30am. The congregation is warmly invited to attend the Baptism of Giacomo Arthand-Daniele at 3pm.
We are delighted to be adding an event to our programme: Songs of Joan of Arc by Jen Zimberg on Friday, 3rd May at 7.30pm. More details on the poster below.
We concluded our brief look at the story of Joseph in our Bible Study session on 25th April. This beautiful story inspired conversations on some essential topics. In our next sessions on 16th and 23rd May at 10am, we will turn to the Book of Proverbs. The suggested reading is chapters 1-8. We will focus on 8:22ff. All are welcome!
Tom will be in Tuamgraney, County Clare, Ireland, taking the Confirmation, this weekend.
Tom Ravetz and Nataliia Shatna
More information is available in the leaflet below.
Diary
Support The Christian Community
To make a one off donation or to set up a monthly standing order, please use the account details below
Account Name: The Christian Community in Forest Row
Sort Code 30-92-92
Account Number: 00012363
Lloyds TSB, 1/3 London Road, East Grinstead
West Sussex RH19 1AH
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Find us
School Lane / Hartfield Road
Forest Row
East Sussex
RH18 5DZ
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Priests of the community: Tom Ravetz and Nataliia Shatna. Contact us on the church email or using the form below.