Vicar's letter

The vicar's letter found here is a duplicate of the letter found in our parish magazine, which is now published every 2 months instead of monthly.

Vicar's Letter December 2024

Dear readers

This is my final vicar’s letter, with the PCC’s decision that it’s now time for the magazine to end, after a distinguished history. My huge thanks to Cathy, who had edited the magazine for many years, and for all who’ve distributed the magazine and contributed to it. The church website will continue to keep you updated with life and ministry at St Catherine’s.

So two final reflections. First, I continue to be inspired by John Stott’s “dream” of what a church should be. Almost 50 years ago, on 24th November, 1974, John Stott preached at All Souls Church, London on the 150th anniversary of the church’s dedication. He concluded with this ‘”dream” – see www.walkingwithgiants.net/church/john-stotts-dream/

Second, I encourage you this Christmas to wonder afresh at the timeless message of the angel, relevant for all people everywhere, “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today, in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you, he is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).

Happy Christmas!

James

Vicar’s Letter (Oct & Nov 2024)

Dear reader

Many of us long to know how to pray better. Wonderfully, the Bible not only teaches us about prayer, it also gives us many examples of prayer. We’ve just begun learning together from the Old Testament book of Nehemiah in our Sunday morning sermons. Already we’ve discovered that Nehemiah is a great example of a prayerful believer who can encourage us in our prayers.

Nehemiah held an important position in the court of the Persian King, Artaxerxes, just over 450 years before Jesus came. Nehemiah is the king’s “cupbearer”, which in those days meant that he was more than a wine steward – he was a trusted advisor. Nehemiah is deeply concerned over the condition of God’s people in Judah. He mourns that the walls of Jerusalem have been in a terrible condition. They’ve not been rebuilt since the Babylonian invasion of Judah just under 150 years earlier, when God’s people were taken into exile to Babylon, which was then later conquered by Persia.

So in chapter 1 we see Nehemiah fervently crying out to God in prayer. He describes him as “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God” (v5). He reminds a covenant keeping God of his promises to Moses to gather together his scattered people, while confessing the sins of all God’s people, including himself. It is a prayer of both wonderful humility but also deep trust in the promises of God.

I want to focus particularly on Nehemiah’s prayer in chapter 2. After four months of praying and waiting for the right opportunity to speak to the King about the situation in Jerusalem, the moment comes. But before Nehemiah speaks to this all-powerful king he prays to a greater king, the king of the universe, God himself. We read very simply in v4, “Then I prayed to the God of heaven”.

One commentator, Raymond Brown (in “The Bible Speaks Today” series) describes Nehemiah’s prayer as “one of the most inspiring payer experiences in Scripture and a high water mark in the history of prayer. Its essential brevity makes it so compellingly attractive”. We’re not told exactly what Nehemiah prayed. It may simply have been, “please help”. It is what known as an arrow prayer – a quick, silent prayer to God. Brown goes on to give 6 encouraging aspects of this prayer which can help us in our prayers. He notes that:

1) “It emphasizes the necessity of prayer. Although Nehemiah had prayed at every available opportunity during the past four months he could not face this critical moment without once more looking to God to meet his needs.

2) It describes the immediacy of prayer. There is no need for to get away to a particular place or wait until we can set aside prolonged time for undisturbed reflection. At any moment we can talk to God.

3) It illustrates the naturalness of prayer. Although Nehemiah had spent hours in prayer over the waiting weeks, to pray again at that crucial moment was the instinctive reaction of a dependent believer. He prayed because it was the most sensible and rational thing to do.

4) It portrays the intimacy of prayer. It was not a desperate cry to a distant God. He was communing in secret with a caring Father.

5) It demonstrates the confidence of prayer. He was communing with “the God of heaven”, the God of unique sovereignty, comforting omniscience and limitless resources.

6) It proves the effectiveness of prayer. The quick petition was immediately answered. The unfailing Lord was at his side. Within seconds the right and best words were on his lips and in the same moment the God of heaven caused generous thoughts to enter Artaxerxes’ enquiring mind”.

I hope this can encourage to you to not only regularly pray but to also send these arrow prayers up to God. Indeed, before writing this, it’s what I did myself. I had just prayed, “Lord, please help me to know what to write in this vicar’s letter with the deadline approaching”. Then I just sensed the Lord leading me to write on Nehemiah’s prayer. God is very kind! So can I encourage you to come along to the Sunday morning services or, if you live further away, listen to the sermon recordings on our website to find out more about Nehemiah and be encouraged in your prayer life too!

With best wishes

James

Vicar’s Letter (Aug & Sept 2024)

Dear reader

Well it’s been quite a summer of sport so far. In the end England made it to the final of the Euros but were beaten by the superior Spain. Wimbledon and The Open have just finished. Now the Paris Olympics are upon us, a great celebration of all types of sport.

The New Testament often uses sporting imagery, certainly running. In Hebrews 12:1-2, the author writes, “let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith”.

This passage is written to Christians who faced much mockery and opposition for their faith. As a result, they were now tempted to give up being a Christian. The writer acts as a coach those who are running the Christian race. He encourages his readers not to drop out of the race. He gives two clear instructions. The first is to run unhindered and with perseverance.

The Christian life is a race. Not that it is like a competition where there is only one winner. No, it’s like a race in that it demands effort, thought, and determination. The Christian life is like a marathon, not a sprint. It is a test of stamina, not of speed. It calls us more to be like Mo Farah, the former long-distance runner, rather than Usain Bolt. Christian need to “run with perseverance” because the Christian life is not easy. Christians have to contend with all the struggles of this world – illness, bereavement, redundancy, family issues. We also have to battle with opposition, mockery from people around them because they believe in Jesus.

To help us run the race, we need to run unhindered, throwing off sin. That is what athletes do – they “throw off everything that hinders”. The original reads, “let us lay aside every weight”. It could refer to the weight of their clothing. In the ancient Olympics Greek runners ran almost naked as they threw off their typical clothing, a toga, a long dress which could cause them to trip up. Well Christians have to throw off everything that hinders them from running wholeheartedly for Jesus.

Sometimes those are good things that will have to throw off. Perhaps we have to be careful that sport or tv or Facebook or relationships don’t get in the way of us spending time with Jesus. But there are some things you have to throw off that are not neutral, but plain wrong. This is “the sin that so easily entangles”. For some it is lust, for others a bad temper, for others gossip, for others love of money.

But the writer says, “throw it off”. Deal with it. Don’t ignore it. Otherwise it will mar your running.

The second instruction is to run fixing your eyes on Jesus. In races you need to keep your eyes firmly fixed on the finishing line. Well in the Christian race we’re told to fix our eyes on Jesus, the one who will take us to the finishing line and beyond. The writer appeals to us in v2: “let us fix our eyes on Jesus”. The word used here refers to the act of someone who, aware of rival attractions, deliberately looks away from other things to focus on one thing. So ultimately we are to focus on Jesus. He is the one who has opened up for us the way of faith, through his death on the cross.

Jesus is also the perfect example of someone who showed enduring faith. Jesus underwent the sufferings of this world. In v2 we read that he “endured the cross, scorning its shame”. Jesus did not give up trusting in his heavenly father. Verse 2 explains why, “for the joy set before him”. It was for the joy of bringing forgiveness, taking believers to God’s new world. That is why Christians should be willing to endure too, because we know that one day we will be with God, in his perfect new world.

So if you’re a Christian, as you watch the athletics in the Olympics remember the race that you’re running too. If you’re just curious about Jesus do feel free to be in contact to find out more about how you can make it on to the running track – which is all through Jesus. Have a great summer and happy sports watching!

With best wishes

James

St Catherine's Tranmere

Vicar's letter