This is a picture of the end of my first communion service as a priest on the 3rd July 2005.. The theme of the service was ‘promise’, Moyra preached, and it took place in St Michael’s in Basingstoke, where I was curate.  My first substantive sermon at Christ Church, South Nutfield, in March 2014, was looking at one of the promises or covenants God makes with his people in the Old Testament. Today, I have just been putting the finishing touches to tomorrow’s sermon at Christ Church, which is my last as a sabbatical rapidly approaches. This is also about the overarching storyline of promise or covenant in the Bible.

I can’t help thinking there is something very circular about this. It is always good to reflect on God’s promises or covenants revealed in scripture – and the way the new covenant works, since the coming of Jesus. It helps us to keep rooted and grounded in our journey of faith. Tomorrow’s  sermon  finishes with some of my favourite verses from St Paul’s letter to the Romans (8:38-39), as they are found in ‘The Message’

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us*.

As a thinker and someone who likes (and at times needs) time to think things through – I particularly like the rendering thinkable and unthinkable – “kind of” captures  the predictable and the unpredictable stuff of life. Though it may feel like I have had more than my fair share of unpredictable of late – none of that stuff whether its predictable or unpredictable can get between us and God’s love for us through Jesus. Amazing!!!

Study leave starts on Monday….

*The Message (MSG) –Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Thank you for joining me!. As the time draws near for my study leave in 2018, there are lots of things to think about.

• Leaving everything in good order in the parish and the area.
• What to do and when to do it as the time of sabbatical approaches
• And most importantly where is God in all this?

In Southwark Diocese, sabbatical time comes along at 7 year intervals post-ordination. This means on 4th July, I marked my 14th anniversary of ordination. Time is slippery stuff – I am older and wiser perhaps, but I am also very shaped and honed by these years and the work of the Holy Spirit. Like all life, there have been ups and downs, moments of clarity and doubt. Ultimately I am still Alison, talents and weaknesses in a quirky package.

I’m currently not as organised as I would like to be (this is quite common!), and I know as I am preparing, I will not quite be setting out on the journey I had hoped for, particularly in relation to my fitness. No doubt however, God has a plan, which will be (as they always are) better than any of mine!