The Mission Church, Sandhurst, Kent

07/06/2026

Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 7th June - The First Sunday after Trinity - and for the week ahead:

Scripture

'For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.' (Romans 4. 13-14)

Reflection

Romans 4:13–14 reminds me that my relationship with God isn’t based on being perfect or always doing the right thing. Instead, it’s built on faith in God’s grace. Paul explains that if God’s promises depended on our ability to follow every rule, then faith wouldn’t really matter—because nobody can live up to God’s standard perfectly.

This passage challenges the idea that we have to earn God’s love or approval through our own efforts. God’s promises are a gift, not a reward for good behaviour. Knowing that brings peace because it takes away the pressure of trying to be “good enough” on our own.

When I rely only on myself, I often end up feeling stressed, discouraged, or exhausted. But faith reminds me to trust in what God has already done for me and in the promises He has made. Instead of constantly trying to prove myself, I can rest in His grace and depend on His strength.

Lyn Hayes ALM

17/05/2026

Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 17th May - The Seventh Sunday of Easter - and for the week ahead:

Scripture:

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ 7 He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ 9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’ (Book of Acts 1.6-11)

Reflection

Christians the world over have just celebrated Ascension Day. This is the day when we remember Jesus’ last moments on Earth and the way He left his followers; not dying as all ordinary folk do, but being lifted up and disappearing beyond a cloud.

Does this sound like a crazy tale, maybe a case of wishful thinking or hallucination? It is so long ago, we cannot verify exactly what the disciples saw, or experienced. But one thing is sure, their experiences transformed them. They were no longer frightened or bewildered, but became confident and brave, daring to stand up and tell people about Jesus.

That confidence, to stand up for what we be believe is right and true, even in the face of opposition, is one of the many gifts that the Holy Spirit brings at Pentecost, which we will celebrate on Sunday (24th of May). Please come and join us!

Revd Ylva

03/05/2026

Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 3rd May- the Fifth Sunday of Easter - and for the week ahead:

Scripture: First Letter of Peter, Verses 4 and 5

'Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious In God’s sight. Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.'

Reflection:

You have only to look at our own parish churches of St George and St Nicholas to see that like most ancient churches they are not built of identical, factory-made bricks, set in neat, regular rows, but are constructed from assorted chunks of natural stone. Some of the stones are large, others are quite small, all shapes and sizes, but the skillful stone masons have fitted them together into solid structures that have lasted for centuries.

St Peter calls his readers to become ‘like living stones’. We are all different, all shapes and sizes, varying in character and appearance, background and gifts. Some fit in easily, others are more awkward. But God, the Master Builder, finds a place for every ‘stone’, large, small, rugged or smooth, as he builds us into a community in which each of us has an essential part.

Revd Rosemary Kobus van Wengen

12/04/2026

Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 12th April - The Second Sunday of Easter - and for the week ahead:

Scripture:

'Jesus said to Thomas, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’, (John 20.29)

Reflection:

The challenge that Jesus posed for his disciples and for the rest of us was about trust.]

Thomas trusted Jesus enough to spend some three years as one of his close followers, but it took a personal encounter with the risen Jesus for him to exclaim ‘My Lord and my God’. Up to that point he had not trusted his friends when they told him that they had seen the risen Jesus; and he had not been able to trust that God, whom Jesus called his Father, had the situation under control. Now, he could.

We often speak as though faith in God is about agreeing that this or that is true. But the real issue is about trusting our heavenly Father.

David Harmsworth

05/04/2026

Scripture & Reflection - Easter Sunday and for the week ahead:

Scripture

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’ 14 When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ 16 Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher).

Reflection

Seeing without understanding. Not realising the meaning of what we are witnessing. Jumping to conclusions based on our own surmising, or on something half understood. All these are such common human experiences; it is almost rare to experience the opposite. So, the fact that Mary, who has just encountered and had a conversation with two angels and is still terribly upset at the horrible death of her dearest friend and Teacher, doesn’t recognise Jesus but takes him for the gardener, is very understandable.
But when he calls her by name, everything changes! Suddenly she knows.

This Easter, hear Jesus call you by your name. You are so very precious to him, just like Mary was. Even if you don’t know, or yet understand what faith is, or whether it is for you; hear him call and turn to him, just like Mary did, to respond with joy!
Wishing you all a very Happy Easter!

Revd Ylva

28/03/2026

28/12/2025

Reflection – Sunday 28th December – The First Sunday of Christmas – and for the week ahead:

Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son shared at Nazareth the life of a earthly home, help your Church to live as one family, united in love and obedience, and bring us all at last to our home in heaven. (Prayer after Communion)

It has been such a joy, in these days of Christmas, to welcome to our churches so many families, united for this festive season. Many of them grew up as part of our church family, and now return with their own children to celebrate Christmas, continuing the familiar traditions of church and home.

But we remember, too, those who are separated from their families by distance, misunderstanding or death. We give thanks for our church family, for the love and support and encouragement we share, and pray that we may be channels of God’s fatherly love to all those in need.

Revd Rosemary