Listen to: Fishers of Men – Bing video
As Coventry has moved into in tier 4, we regret that church continues to be closed for worship. Elders will review the situation at a later date. Please check the website and our Facebook page for updates.
In the light of the current COVID-19 (Corona Virus) outbreak, we regret that non-worship activities at the church continue to be temporarily suspended.
Please check with activity organisers / check the church website for updates via the NEWS page [for Covid-19 community support updates], the diary and the COVID-19 AND CHURCH page [for church-related information].
The COMMUNITY page contains suggestions for activities and educational links to support families during periods of social isolation (‘Lockdown’) or if quarantine is required.
An archive of Revd Bill Young’s podcasts can be accessed HERE: https://revdbill.uk/worship-material
Revd Debbie Brown hosts a regular Sunday phone-in act of worship at
4pm. Call 0330 606 0403. You will be asked for an access code, which is 442786#. To improve the sound quality for all, where possible, please mute your phone except during times of greeting and other shared sections.
A link to the URC’s daily reflection webpage can be found near the bottom of this page.
A reading from those set for Sunday 24/01/21
Mark 1:14-20
Jesus announces the good news and calls his first disciples
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’
As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.
When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
What is this passage telling us?
After the quiet tone of Advent, the celebration of Christmas and the beginning of a new year, it can be very relaxing to settle back into what some churches call Ordinary Time. This is a period not directly linked to Advent, Christmastide, Lent or Easter.
This Gospel begins in the middle of Chapter One of Mark’s Gospel. This section of the chapter immediately follows the account of John the Baptist’s arrest. Despite the fact that John had been arrested, Jesus continued on to Galilee to proclaim His message. Everywhere He went, He proclaimed that the time of fulfilment, the kingdom of heaven was at hand. Jesus preached a message of repentance. He invited people to believe in the Gospel – the good news.
I wonder what the people who heard him preach thought of Jesus and His message? Andrew and Simon were among the crowd who listened to Jesus’ message. He singled them out and invited them to follow Him. Immediately they dropped their nets, and left their families to follow Him. What was it about this man Jesus that enticed these hardworking fishermen to leave their livelihood, families and homes to immediately follow Jesus? Was it His charisma? Was it the message He was preaching? Or was it a call from deep within?
Jesus MUST have been a powerful speaker. His message must have been very different from what the other prophets preached and people had heard time and again. There was something about Jesus that deeply touched Simon and Andrew. Jesus had something they longed for. Thus, they left their nets and boat to follow this man, Jesus. Jesus called Simon and Andrew – then going a little further, Jesus also called James and John to follow Him.
Why do people follow Jesus? Is it because it is what we learned as children? Do we follow Jesus because that is what we are supposed to do? Is Jesus a real person to us or is He simply a character in a story to us? Take some time and reflect on this question: who is Jesus to you? Does Jesus make a difference in your life?
Today (and every day) Jesus is calling us just as He called His first apostles. What will our response be? Will we tell Jesus that “now” is not a good time? Will we give Him all the reasons why we can’t pick up and follow Him? Or will we place our hope and trust in Jesus as these first disciples did? Will we eagerly follow Him?
I pray your answer is YES!
Adapted from two blogs on the theme God is inviting you: The Dome Blog: Reflection: Mark 1:14-20 (ferdinandbenedictines.blogspot.com)andThe Dome Blog: Reflection: Mark 1:14-20 (ferdinandbenedictines.blogspot.com)– which really ARE two different links!
If you are self-isolating, or in any way affected by the closure of the church building, please let one of the elders (or our minister, Debbie) know, so that the church can keep in touch with you.
Looking for some quiet reflection? Try the link below!
It will take you to a page which presents bible readings with gentle music accompanying.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Christian+Hymns+Karaoke&&view=detail&mid=CE6C8B8EA143C7F30270CE6C8B8EA143C7F30270&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3DChristian%2BHymns%2BKaraoke%26Form%3DVDRSCL%26%3D0
Welcome to our church website
Through these pages we hope to give you an insight into our church community. If you would like to come along in person, we’d love to meet you!
We have a Sunday morning service every week, at 10.30am. Everyone is welcome, and if it’s your first visit – do please introduce yourself.
There is an evening Communion service at 6.30pm on the third Sunday in the month, which is organised by a small group of our members and often based around music and words from the Iona Community. More details of these services and other activities are available in the Services and Diary sections of our website.
Please click on the links to find out more about us, and to see what’s going on, visit our Diary section! Building access information is available here. You can also contact us via email, details are on the Contact Us section of our website.
Our Facebook page can be found at: http://www.facebook.com/Holyhead-Road-United-Reformed-Church-151789941574498/
Where are we?
Use this link to Google maps for location and directions:
Looking for ready-made daily devotions each day? https://devotions.urc.org.uk/
A prayer for those visiting our website
Almighty and eternal God,
who created us in your own image and gave us the will to seek after all that is good, true and beautiful, especially in the person of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
we give you thanks for the freedom of communication.
Grant, we pray you, that through our journeys in this website we may be led to charity, prayer, patience and greater understanding of each other and that we may discern more closely your will for your pilgrims here on earth.
To the glory of the Word made flesh,
Amen
