Church is BACK!
Redeemer returned to the University of West London yesterday! Read on to find out what it felt like….
When I walked back into the University of West London on Sunday morning, it has been 202 days, 19 hours and 30 minutes (roughly) since I had left the building on the 15th of March after our normal Sunday service. If I’m honest I wasn’t quite sure what to expect! I knew the rules, I knew that people had signed up, I knew that there was going to be a lot of setup to do and a lot of praying that all the technology would work, but I didn’t quite know how it would feel. If I’d been asked to try and sum up what I expected to be like, I would have probably boiled it down to one word, I expected it to be WEIRD.
And at first, my expectation was met. It was a little weird to be wearing a mask and having to follow a one way system, or to be printing out a list of those who had booked tickets, and seeing chairs spaced out with unnatural gaps and in no discernible pattern. But after a while, once the strangeness had worn off, I began to see what this was, it was something I had missed for a long time. This was CHURCH.
Now this is not to say that the last 28 weeks have been completely church free! As someone who works full time at Redeemer I can confidently say that church has not stopped for a second during the pandemic. We have shared great times of prayer together, built community, and enjoyed fantastic worship times and preaching series online on Sunday mornings! But this Sunday was a fantastic reminder for me that the church is about PEOPLE.
Not just faces on a screen, or names in a contact list, but real people! People who turned up early to make sure that there were signs pointing people in the right direction, people who plugged in cables and set up cameras so that others could tune in online. People who sat with kids on their knees, or stood and raised hands, all the while desperately trying not to break into song! People who came to dedicate their Sunday morning, and the whole rest of their lives, to GOD.
Now I would be lying if I said that it wasn’t at all weird… There are certainly aspects of Sunday which I hope don’t catch on, and I’ve greeted enough people with a strange elbow touch now to know that I definitely don’t want to do that ever again. But the sight of others raising their hands in worship, the quiet “Amens” of appreciation as Pete preached about grace, the friendly faces walking past after the service, they all transformed a morning which started off a little weird into a glorious celebration of the people of God gathered together again.
It was a Redeemer Family reunion. And I LOVED IT.
Psalm 23/John's Gospel - A Mash Up
Last Sunday, Steve highlighted the links between Psalm 23 and the gospel of John. His “Biblical mash-up” is now available in blog form…
I love it when I see synergies between the Old and New Testaments – especially when the Old Testament points to Jesus.
On Sunday mornings at Redeemer, we’ve been going through the ‘I am’ sayings of Jesus captured in the gospel of John. When I see the phrase ‘I am the good shepherd’ my mind immediately goes to Psalm 23’s ‘The Lord is my shepherd.
But the crossover doesn’t end there.
The Psalmist said:
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
Jesus said:
“I am the gate; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
The psalmist said:
He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Jesus said:
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.”
The psalmist said
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.
Jesus said
“I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness but shall have the light of life.”
The psalmist said
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Jesus said:
“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for His sheep.”
The psalmist said
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
Jesus said:
“I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger.”
The psalmist said:
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Jesus said:
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.”
The psalmist said:
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
Jesus said:
“I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies.”
The psalmist said:
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Jesus said:
“In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ... I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
Jesus is the fulfilment of the scriptures. I encourage you as you read the Old Testament, look for pointers to Jesus: Prophet, Priest, King – Shepherd.
Written by Steve Page
Just as He Said
He is risen!
Just as he said.
This Easter Sunday was different to many past Easter Sunday’s at Redeemer, but we did still get the blessing of hearing something from our resident poet - Steve Page. In case you missed it, or if you just want to read and enjoy the powerful truth again, it’s below.
P.S. I know it’s Tuesday now, but he’s still risen. Isn’t it great?!
"Didn't He tell you
Wasn't it clear
Did you not realise
Did you not hear?
He is now risen
He is not here
He's gone on ahead
Please hold back your tears.
We won't need your spices
Don't look so amazed
Go tell everybody
His body's been raised."
So shocked and bewildered
They left the cold tomb
And ran to the others
Who hid in a room,
"Jesus has risen
He's body's not there
Let's go now and meet him
In Galilee where
He'll explain it all to us
Make clear what He said
Please don't look so worried
No need to be scared.
Jesus has risen
I tell you it's true
Let's go now and meet Him
Let's start life renewed."
Written by Steve Page
Easter - A Change in Perspective
Adele shares what Easter means to her, and how that’s changed somewhat over the years….
I shall never forget spending Easter with my sister, at my gran’s.
Even though I was only ten years old and my sister was nine (which was many years ago), we still remember it clearly! Why?
Was it because she spoiled us with her home cooking?
Was it because we were allowed to do fun things we weren’t allowed to do at home?
No! In fact my sister and I were not allowed to do ANYTHING!! Except pray, of course… After all, this was Holy Week…
On Good Friday we spent the whole day indoors, being reminded not to raise our voices and keep a solemn quiet! At 2.30pm our gran turned on the radio and we all sat together round her little table and listened intently to it. The speaker described the passion and crucifixion of Jesus in such detail and so vividly, that Marie and I could not stop bawling our eyes out! Our gran was so pleased that she said we could have something light to eat after 6pm!
Since the last time any food had passed our young lips was 10am, we were thrilled…
Well, on reflection maybe that isn’t the best way to explain Easter to young children, but our grandmother, a strict, staunch, traditional Catholic, obviously didn’t know any better. I like to think that God knew her heart though…
Since then, I’m glad to say, my perception of Easter has changed, as has its focus.
Yes, I do still remember the pain endured on that terrible cross by Jesus, but I also know the real reason for it being known as ‘GOOD Friday’. Because on that cross Jesus paid the penalty for my sin, dying in my place so that I, a sinner, can now stand before God the Father and be declared innocent! (Romans 6:23 says, For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.)
So that was indeed a GOOD Friday!
And it doesn’t stop there… after Friday came Saturday and then Sunday – EASTER SUNDAY - the greatest day of all for fallen humanity!
For not only did Jesus Christ die for me and you, but He was raised to life again on that Sunday! And because He lives, I too am assured of everlasting life with Him when I die!
Wow! It can’t get better than that!
Death has been defeated and our King is now reigning victorious! As the apostle Paul says ‘Death, where is your victory; where is your sting?’ (1 Cor 15:55)
It’s gone!
So now when I think of Easter I can’t sit quietly as my gran would have wanted. I rejoice. I celebrate together with millions of other people throughout the world who understand that the unimaginable happened on that Easter Day over 2,000 years ago - The sinner gets set free, the gates of heaven are opened wide. The Father welcomes us with open arms! I shall be there one day –
How about you? What’s your perception of Easter?
A time of solemnity? Or a time to rejoice?
If you’d like a new perspective – please join us at Redeemer London this Easter. You’ll find people for whom death holds no fear - because Jesus’ death changed everything for us.
Adele Dabrowski
What. A. Weekend.
Why was the Easter weekend so important?
Wow.
What a weekend.
Without doubt the most important weekend of the year when it comes to the church calendar. This weekend we celebrated the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, events which despite occurring over 2000 years ago, still shape each and every moment of the life of a christian. Without this weekend, if he never died as a sacrifice for our sins and then rose, conquering death and winning an everlasting victory, followers of Jesus Christ would quite simply have no foundation for their faith in him. But we believe that he did do that, we believe that he still lives today, and is seated on a heavenly throne, at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for us, which makes the Easter weekend one worth celebrating!
The weekend started with a day we now call Good Friday, but a day which seemed altogether less ‘good’ all those years ago. Jesus Christ of Nazareth hung on a cross and died, seemingly defeated. While we know now that this was in fact the beginning of his victory, a moment when all of our sin and shame was paid for, it is important as christians that we remember the cost of our salvation, that Jesus suffered in our place, that he felt our pain. This was the first time we have met together on Good Friday at Redeemer and it was an amazing service, meeting together for an hour, we sung songs which reminded us of the power of Jesus’ blood, we heard monologues read which reinforced the message that Jesus suffered for us, and we took communion together to mark the sacrifice that was made. I personally was incredibly moved by the whole service, and it was stirring to hear so many voices lifted up in praise to their king, even on such a sombre occasion.
Then, on Easter Sunday, it was time for a celebration! We had the opportunity to sing songs together which allowed us to rejoice in the victory won as Jesus walked out of his tomb! We were led by a fantastic choir, heard truth proclaimed, and were able to celebrate with three individuals who took the opportunity this Easter Sunday to be baptised and to begin their own journey of walking with Jesus, out of the darkness, and into his Glorious Day!
But what does this weekend mean for us as christians? Is it just a once a year celebration, after which we go back to our routines….? No! We believe that this truth, this celebration of Jesus’ victory is something to be celebrated all year round! So we’ll be celebrating next Sunday too, and the Sunday after that, and not just on Sundays! Every day of the rest of our lives is now lived in the knowledge that we walk in the everlasting victory that was won on the first Easter! This truth we believe is not just for ourselves, but is true for all people, of all ages, all across the world. If you’re reading this and you aren’t currently celebrating this truth, why not come and find out more by visiting us on a Sunday morning at Ealing Town Hall, or join us on Thursday the 9th of May as we launch our next Alpha course with an evening of live music and poetry at Artisan Coffee. As you reflect on another Easter weekend, whatever that means for you, don’t miss a chance to come and join in the celebration which continues all year round!
He is risen.
He is risen indeed!
“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen!
Mark 16:6