St Catherine Neasden

Christians smear ash on their heads as a symbol of fasting, shortly after reading about Jesus telling his followers not to do just that. Jesus advised that they wipe their face, so no-one but God can see that they are fasting. Face-wiping Wednesday anyone? youtu.be/OmV_-fFhPzg

When it comes to drinking, what really matters is water - everything else is flavouring. In our lives, justice, mercy and humility are what really matters. All other teachings, beliefs and religious practices are flavouring. youtu.be/QzLS6du0qug

It has been an honour and a privilege to serve Neasden through St Catherine's for the past 7 years. Thank you, Neasden for your diversity and your acceptance of many cultures and races. You are an example to the world. Keep caring, and keep loving. God is loving; loving is godly.

Why would the God who created the universe have any interest in us? King David asked that, 3000 years ago. It’s still a good question. There may be countless creatures across the galaxies that reflect their creator. Regardless of that, God cares about us. youtu.be/EhbU6VI7u8U

God does’t prefer sensible, law-abiding people, neither does he prefer wild and lawless ones. He loves us all. He loves us differently, but he loves us equally. He allows us to head off, making own choices, and welcomes us with open arms when we return. youtu.be/L7NGH58rnbk

Just as nectar is honey & honey is nectar, God is love. When anyone is loving, they are godly - whether or not they realise it. The opposite is as true: when someone is rejecting or judgemental - whatever they may claim to believe - they are being godless. youtu.be/Phsol5PuE40

In all handovers and takeovers there is change. Throughout the story of God’s people, whenever there was a handover, there was change. The past may have been the right thing in its time, but we have to do the right thing in our time. youtu.be/5QvbB0rZq4Q

Feeling in the dark is not a nice feeling; it feels vulnerable and confusing. The writers of Isaiah suggest that is better to trust God in the darkness, than to provide ourselves with a torch. youtu.be/32aQBfXi3Jg

We look for short term outcomes on local scales. But God is working a long-term plan on a global scale. And he’s working, not through popular leaders, the rich & the famous or celebrities; he works his plan through lowly, and unassuming people. youtu.be/npYwGE11PFc

Everyone has a belief system. We generally believe that our own is superior to the others on offer. We’re unlikely to be right. The writers of Isaiah urge us to have a belief system that makes a real and valuable difference in the world. youtu.be/3s0POKpTicA

God works with what we bring him. He doesn’t get held back by what we don’t have or what we can’t do. Elisha helped a widow, who only had one jar of oil. So God helped her by using that oil. If we bring to God what we can do, he will use it. youtu.be/PWjX_h5SviE

We quickly divide nations into simplistic categories. Currently, Ukrainians are goodies and Russians are baddies. God doesn’t see it that way, he looks for honesty, justice and mercy. Whoever displays those things is on his side, whatever flag they fly. youtu.be/pYBBUjfjyVc

The rising and falling of empires is nothing new. God works with leaders who are considerate, and work for the benefit of people who are different from them - not just themselves. One such, was the Persian Emperor, Cyrus, who Isaiah called God’s Messiah. youtu.be/reO_AHJO-7s

It’s easy to ridicule other people’s religion. It’s harder to realise what is ridiculous in our own. Ultimately, it comes down to each of us having a real relationship with the real god, which makes a real difference to our relationships with real people. youtu.be/kvPFDDYHMeQ

Learning Jesus’ teaching is rather like soaking a cloth in warm, soapy water. We don’t do it for the sake of the cloth, we do it so the cloth can clean something else. Jesus taught about God’s love so that we would love other people. youtu.be/FucnILJhdCk

As human beings, we want to be strong & successful. Such things are drilled into us deeply. St Paul discovered through his own experience that when we are at our weakest we can be most useful to our world. Wealth and power are not the ways of God. youtu.be/IVu3P1sug5E

People say, “This shouldn’t be happening in 2022!” When was it ever decreed that by 2022 the world would have sorted itself out? Jesus refused to get drawn into politics, and reminds us that plenty more empires will rise and fall before humanity is done. youtu.be/OGnwR6BgXnY

All sorts of groups and religions claim to know the truth about God. But how do we know who to trust? Ultimately we have to make that decision ourselves. St Paul advises being wary of those who have self-interest in their message. youtu.be/VP5mV7Q82pc

Changes of leadership can feel like a bigger thing than perhaps they are. It’s only the leader who is being changed, the people being led are still there, and - most importantly - so is God. @home worship from St Catherine’s. youtu.be/4HYDe9JgItI

Money is always a tricky issue. It touches our emotions deeply. Money and religion together are a dangerous combination. St Paul urged people to make up their own minds, and to give out of love, not out of guilt. “God”, he wrote, “loves a cheerful giver.” youtu.be/hDxVN2iKW5Q