http://www.stmarysrisborough.org.uk/

St Mary's Church, Church Street, Princes Risborough (2026)

22/10/2026

Thursday's thought is from Rose Williams.

Last week my email was hacked and I could neither receive nor send emails. This was very annoying but worse still was the bogus message the scammers sent out, supposedly from me, to all my contacts asking for money. (Apologies to all who received this. I hope you ignored it).

Although it was not my fault, I felt very guilty but also bereft. I wondered what messages I was missing and felt very cut off. I know that emails are a comparatively recent thing but they keep us in touch with so many people. Technology has aided us enormously, especially during COVID, in being able to keep in touch.

All this made me appreciate the importance of family , friends and colleagues. We need one another for company, affirmation and affection. We all have a built in need to belong within families, groups and communities. Part of our being created in the image of God is the desire to love and be loved. Never is this more clearly emphasised than in the Christian way of life. Fellowship includes loving one another, even those we find difficult, as Christ loves us.

At times it is a tall order. We don’t have that kind of selflessness in our natural make up, but the Holy Spirit gives us the miraculous ability to see others through God’s eyes and respond accordingly. Those changes that he makes within us give God the glory as others see and benefit from the transformation in us.

Lord, we thank you for our friends, family, relatives and acquaintances who make up our social life. Help us to be supportive and loving to each one. Give us the grace to love those who we find difficult and to pray for them. Forgive our self-centredness and enable us to put you first and follow your example. Amen.

20/10/2026

Tuesday's Thought is brought to us byTony Eccleston

Confession: Surely We’re Not That Bad?

Last week I messed up a task that I had said I would do.. Now, there are few things that most of us enjoy less than admitting that we have got something wrong. Confession, it seems, does not come naturally. We would often rather forget our mistakes, quietly sweep them under the carpet, or persuade ourselves that they were not really mistakes at all. And if we do feel guilty, we may try to make up for it by being extra nice to someone or promising to do better next time. Yet there is something liberating about being able to say, quite simply, “I got that wrong. I’m sorry.”

Confession is not about grovelling or wallowing in guilt. Nor is it an exercise in making God aware of something he has somehow overlooked! It is about being honest with God, with ourselves and, where appropriate, with other people. It is about acknowledging the truth, accepting responsibility and allowing God's grace to do its healing work.

Attending Church gives us some very helpful opportunities to do this. In our regular services we confess our sins together, not pretending to be a congregation of perfect people, but acknowledging that we all fall short. We know that we are all in the same boat — and that God's mercy is greater than our failures.

So how can we encourage a healthy attitude to confession? We can be honest about our own shortcomings without taking ourselves too seriously. We can learn to apologise without adding the word “but”. We can resist the temptation to judge others more harshly than we judge ourselves. And we can remind one another that admitting a fault is not a sign of weakness, but often the first step towards putting things right.

Above all, we need to remember that confession is not the end of the story. Forgiveness is. God does not invite us to confess in order to humiliate us, but to free us. We do not have to pretend that we are perfect before we come to him; we come precisely because we are not.

Perhaps the best news of all is that we can stop trying to persuade God that we are better than we are. He knows us already — and loves us still. Now, that really is something worth confessing!

15/10/2026

Thursday's Thought comes from Peter Cline.

'Sharing the Love of Christ with All'

Dear Friends,

Towards the end of 1 Corinthians 15 Paul tells us that when the last trumpet sounds … we shall all be changed in an instant … the dead will be raised, never to die again!

I love this passage where Paul tells us we will be changed 'in the blinking of an eye'. That means that, when my clock stops ticking, I will be there in my new, resurrection body in an instant, just as Jesus said to the dying thief, 'Today you will be in Paradise with me' (Luke 23: 43).

Did you notice that Jesus didn't say, 'in heaven'? I think we get the idea of 'going to heaven' from the medieval monks, because the Bible tells us nothing like that. I like to say that believers will go to be with Jesus.

The question I ask myself then is, 'Where will Jesus be when my time comes? The answer has to be 'in Paradise'. But the Bible doesn't tell us where that is ... or does it?

In the beginning, God separated light from darkness, and he named the light Day and the darkness Night. So God actually created time for us to live in! When my clock ceases to tick, I shall pass into eternity where there is no time. In eternity, God, in the person of Jesus, is already back here on planet Earth for the second time as he promised. We, who are alive now, are still waiting for that to happen, but Jesus and that thief are there already!

When Jesus comes again, 'according to the scriptures', he will fulfil all the Old Testament prophecies of the 'peaceful kingdom' and 'Paradise' will be here on Earth. I'm hoping to meet that thief here.

Most of us question what happens when we die. Here, in the Bible, is the answer. Good news is worth sharing!

‘Thank you, Lord, for another day to live our earthly life before we fully enter eternity with you. Thank you, Lord, for another day on earth, before we are truly at home with you in Paradise. Thank you, Lord, for another day to know you in part, before we see you face to face. Amen.’

13/10/2026

Today's Thought comes from Bryan Matthew.

One, perhaps the most, critical part of the Gospels can be found in all three synoptic books. It is where Jesus’ identity and mission is clearly revealed for the first time. In the oldest gospel, Mark 8:27-10:52, the background is that John the Baptist has been beheaded; Jesus provides food for 5,000 people; Jesus walks across a lake; he provides food for a further 4,000 and then heals a blind man. Jesus directly asks this question of his disciples “Who do people say I am?”. They variously reply, “John the Baptist” “Elijah” “one of the prophets”. Jesus asks again ” Who do you say I am?”. Only Peter replies, boldly stating “You are the Messiah”. Perhaps surprisingly, the disciples are warned not to tell anyone about Jesus.

In Matthew 16:13-28 Peter goes further, declaring He is “... the Son of the Living God” and Jesus tells him that this could only have been revealed to him by God himself. Jesus continues: “And I tell you that you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven”. Jesus changes Simon’s name to Peter, which literally means “rock.” We know that this church leader was actually called “rock” (Aramaic: Cephas) because Paul mentions meeting him and uses this name. Jesus uses the metaphor of a rock to claim that Peter will be the foundation of the church and even grants Peter a measure of divine authority. It’s on this basis that the Catholic Church names Peter the first Pope.

Despite Peter ultimately recognising who Jesus is, Jesus made it very clear that the disciples should not tell anyone about him. This was not the only time Jesus made such a comment. After the Transfiguration Jesus demanded that secret to be kept until he had risen from the dead. Perhaps Jesus wanted to avoid the problems that being ‘The Messiah’ might bring in terms of his ability to move around and preach. Whatever the reason this was a pivotal moment in Jesus’ ministry where his true identity and mission were revealed for the first time.

08/10/2026

Thursday's thought comes from Nancy Wallace

When I worked full time I needed task lists and time management strategies to work efficiently. Now I am both retired and coping with chronic illness, I don't often make a to do list, except those tasks that I put in the diary. Those are only the 'have to be done', such as writing this Thought for the Day in time for it to be posted as scheduled. I have many ideas about things I would like to do, that would be good to do, that I hope to do, health permitting. It is a myth that retirement means more free time....it just depends.
I love Stephen Cherry’s idea, in a prayer poem called “The To Do List”, that those disorderly items "swirling and arching" in the mind that have not yet been captured in a 'to do list' are like fishes. Some of the 'to do' fish need to be caught and sorted. What is important? What is not? The prayer ends by asking for help to focus attention, time and energy where it can be most effective and to let go of what can be left undone today. "And let me throw the little fish back; let me catch them another day - when they have grown."
Prayer can deteriorate into a 'to do list' for God. As if God doesn't know what needs doing unless we list it. We can avoid mentioning something in prayer because it seems too trivial, as if God is too busy to care about what concerns us and those we love.
Presenting God with a ‘to do list’ is very different from Jesus’ teaching on prayer. We do not need to persuade God to align with our concerns. Jesus taught his disciples to pray in accordance with God’s will, not ours. Jesus’ pattern prayer in Luke 11: 1 -4 is not a ‘to do” list. It focuses first on God, then on our basic human needs. “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.”
Maybe considering those concerns as priority could help sort that to do list?

06/10/2026

Tuesday's thought comes from Claire Barbary

God’s word can speak to us through His creation and also the changing seasons of our lives. However do we listen?

Our Father God often uses nature metaphors to describe His care for us: “look at the birds of the air, they don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your Heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you much more valuable to Him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” Matthew 6:26

Through good and difficult times it can be helpful to go outside and look up at the amazing changing skies “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear Him: as far as the east is from the west, so far has he moved removed our sins from us” Psalm 103 11&12

Perhaps today as you see the Chiltern Hills that surround Risborough remember the words of Psalm 121:1-2 “I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth”

God bless you.

01/10/2026

Thursday's thought comes from Steve Williams.

William Temple was born in The Palace, in Exeter, the son of the bishop who later became the Archbishop of Canterbury. William followed his father and served as a bishop for 23 years. He died in 1944, 2 years into his term as Archbishop of Canterbury. He is regarded as an outstanding leader and a great, yet humble, man. He was a pioneer of the ecumenical movement and a tireless church reformer. He gave excellent leadership to Christian social movements and stood as a prophetic voice to the world. He once said: “In our dealing with one another let us be more eager to understand those who differ from us then either to refute them or press upon them our own tradition".
He was particularly strong on how the church impacted society. He said that this was in two ways. First, the Church must announce Christian principles and point out where the existing social order is in conflict with them. Second, it must then pass on to Christians, acting in their civic capacities, the task of reshaping the existing order closer to these principles. Society may not want to listen to what we believe are the principles but as this is God’s world and we are his servants we can’t shirk from our responsibilities to tell the world how God wants it treated. We can’t necessarily tell them how to do it in a particular area unless we are qualified in that area. But we should encourage those who are qualified such as politicians, those in business and environmentalists to treat the world as it should be treated.
Temple wrote that we are self-centred, but we always carry with us abundant proof that this is not the whole truth about our nature. We have to our credit both capacities and achievements that could never be derived from self-interest alone. The image of God – the image of holiness and love – is still in us, though defaced. It is the source of our aspirations. It enables us to see “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus,” and so “with unveiled face, reflecting as a mirror the glory of the Lord,” we may be “transformed into the same image from glory to glory,” which should be a wonderful witness to the world.

29/09/2026

Tuesday's thought was written by Tony Eccleston

Which of God’s commandments would you say is the most difficult to obey? St Paul says, ‘Do not lie’. Maybe this is the most difficult because when you're in a tight spot it's tempting to twist the truth just a little. The commandment not to covet is difficult too. Or what about Paul’s commandment: “Do all things without grumbling?” Maybe you have thought complaining is your spiritual gift! But I think one of the hardest commandments to obey is, “Do not let your heart be troubled” (John 14.1). There’s so much to be troubled about: conflict, cyber attacks, corruption, crime in the community, rising prices and much more.

Someone said we live in “The Cardiac Age.” Everyone seems to have heart trouble - we worry about our children and grandchildren. We worry about coping with the cost of living, or perhaps we’re dealing with chronic health problems and we’re worrying about which is the best option for treatment.

You’re in good company! In John 14 Jesus’ disciples felt the same way. It finally begins to dawn on them that Jesus is going to die, and their hearts are heavy and deeply troubled. Fortunately, Jesus addresses his disciples’ heart trouble with some heart-to-heart words.

Just a few hours before he goes to the cross he tells his disciples: “Do not let your heart be troubled.” The disciples are already anxious but Jesus gives the cure for heart trouble: “believe in God, believe also in Me.” Jesus knows that many disciples who believe in him for salvation struggle to trust in him in the course of their day-to-day lives. So Jesus says: You must believe that I will never leave you. You must believe I will never stop praying for you. You must believe in the comfort of the Holy Spirit that I will give you.

No matter how badly things may be going in your life today, Jesus has promised you a glorious eternity. The guarantee of heaven is confirmed by his promise: “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” In our fallen world, we can gain relief for our troubled hearts from the fact that Jesus is going to take us to be with him. Christ’s words reveal that our destiny involves both a place and a person. The place is the Father’s house, but being there comes from knowing a person—Christ himself.

24/09/2026

Thursday's thought comes from Steve Williams

Have you ever heard of kintsugi? It comes from Japan and it is a way of repairing broken china usually with gold. So that instead of attempting to hid the cracks, they are highlighted. Because of the value of the gold the article may not be used but just put on display so that the artistry of the workmanship can be admired. Compare this to an ordinary plate which has been repaired as far as possible and may not look too good but, out of necessity, has been brought back into everyday use.
Now the kintsugi may be beautiful and worth admiring but when it is only used for display its original purpose has been lost. Cups and plates and vases are mostly made to be useful. But when kintsugi is displayed like sculpture apart from its original context, it is easy to forget that it had a function before it was broken. Now that it’s repaired, is it “just” art.
As a symbol of repair in human lives the ordinary plate that is restored not just in form but in function has returned to what it was made to be. Just being on display isn’t what we were created to be. God mends us for something—for everyday practical use, in fact.
God’s an Artist, to be sure. His ability to repair our deepest cracks and wounds is worthy of wonder. But as much as our mended lives testify to his skill, he has even more in mind for us than display. His ultimate aim in human history is to take all his broken people and repair us for loving communion with himself and others. We are to be his partners in setting things right in the world … co-artists in his “kintsugi kingdom”.
God repairs us so that we can abide with him and reclaim our unique purpose in the world. Spiritual restoration is about healing the things that hold us back from love.
When we welcome the Spirit’s renewal, we are made into practical art of the highest quality, with no limit to the breadth of its service at his table.
Mend us with your artist’s eye and steady hand, and conform us to your pattern, Jesus. Restore us to the joy of your way of life—a life of practical love and lowly service to one another. Amen.

22/09/2026

Tuesday's thought comes from Rose Williams

One saying I love is “Is prayer the steering wheel of your life or just the spare tyre?” It sums up how often, or how infrequently, we ask God for help. Regularly coming to God in prayer recognises that He is the guiding force that can overrule in all situations. If we are not careful however, prayer can dwindle into being something we only use in an emergency.
Have a look at Psalm 121. It is one of the better known psalms. Someone attending New W**e took that psalm and imagined what God might say to us along those lines.

“Good Morning
I am God and today I will be handling your problems. Please remember that I do not need your help.
If life happens to deliver a situation that you cannot handle DO NOT attempt to resolve it. Kindly place it in the ‘something for God to do’ box. All situations will be handled IN MY TIME not yours.
Once the matter is placed info my box do not hold on to it worrying about it. Instead focus on all the wonderful things that are present in your life now.
If it is a situation you think you are capable of handling please consult me first to make sure it is a proper solution.
Remember I neither slumber nor sleep, so there is no need for you to lose any.
Rest in peace and remember I am only a prayer away.”

Let’s remember that prayer is our steering wheel and, better still, let’s let God drive.

St Mary's Church

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