Epiphany 3
Almighty God,
whose Son revealed in signs and miracles
the wonder of your saving presence:
Renew your people with your heavenly grace,
and in all our weakness
sustain us by your mighty power;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 7: 29-31
Mark 1: 14-20
Last Thursday marked the beginning of the week of Christian Unity. In Kenmare, members of our three Churches met for a time of Praise, Prayer and Pizza in the Gateway Methodist – and we were additionally blessed by the presence of a number of our Ukrainian friends, who happily joined in the signing and the time of open prayer. Our togetherness was a real-life example of the unity we experience at a personal level.
But It did make me wonder if Christian Unity simply means once-a-year worship and prayer together outside the constraints of tradition or denomination. It must surely mean more than that. We need to stop using our energy on idle debating the differences between us – nothing is likely to result in change (at least in the short-medium term). Instead we must regard unity as a challenge – that in collectively accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour, we are obliged to join in active service of His creation, using our combined resources to address the real problems of the World – and goodness knows there are plenty of them. Homeless families. Unwelcome refugees. Revenge exercised upon children. Self-serving political ‘leadership’. Prejudice against those who are ‘different’. And many others.
The prophet Isaiah spoke of His God-given message of the service asked of us in His name: to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captive, release to the prisoners. And by so doing proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.
So as we celebrate this week of Christian Unity, let us consider what service we could offer together, that we wouldn’t be capable of achieving on our own – the whole being much greater than the parts.
And then rather than talking about it, let’s make it happen.
Previous Posts
Praying Together March 29th 2026
These things are worth meditation and thought, as we enter this Holy Week – but the even more important question that we can only answer for ourselves, is embodied in twelve straightforward words written by Charles Wesley.
How can it be, That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Praying Together 22 March 2026
“Lazarus, come out.” He calls Lazarus by name. Even death cannot triumph, and so it is with sin. There is no depth or distance to which human being can go that can prevent them from hearing that call. It is up to them to choose to accept or deny it.
Praying Together 15th March 2026
Simeon, though, didn’t just hear about the Messiah being incarnate in the child – he also knew that the child’s destiny would involve pain and suffering in order to fulfil His mission. And Mary knew too. The consolation of Israel – of the world – would cost her the life of her child.
Praying Together 8th March 2026
And in turn, we are challenged to become messengers ourselves, however unsuitable or ill-equipped we might feel.
Praying Together 22nd February 2026
If we are to appreciate the gentleness of a lamb, we need to know its opposite. If we are to understand what safety is, we need also to experience the possibility of danger.
Praying Together 15th February 2026
Perhaps, when we pray, we need to remember it is the Jesus on the Mountain to whom we address our prayers, the one whose face shines like the sun and transfigures our faces as we radiate in His light.
Praying Together February 8th 2026
Is Jesus suggesting, not to eat and drink? And is he saying we should not wear clothes but go naked?
How unrealistic is this, and how depressing – we need to eat and drink, and we need clothing.
Praying Together February 1st 2026
Christ’s words are given to all His people in the face of the difficulties we ourselves face in life. We claim them and are assured of Blessing. And that is all we need.
Praying Together January 25th 2026
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Praying Together 18th January 2026
In prayer, we ask: Who is God calling to come and use their specific individual gifts to continue to build His Kingdom in the future?
His reply is clear.
“You”, He says.
Praying Together 11 January 2026
Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.
Praying Together 21st December 2025
Joseph’s example is one of love, human reaction, vocation and ultimate obedience to his Creator. So we rightly celebrate both Mary and Joseph as the chosen parents of the Christ-child. But we must also remember that they were ordinary people with human emotions who lived extraordinary lives.