God bless the NHS and all the key workers

Good support tonight for the NHS and keywokers in ClapForCarers, and I liked the display on our neighbour's balcony.

We'll meet again

The Queen's message displayed at Piccadilly Circus

'We will be with our friends again, we will be with our families again; we will meet again' the Queen told the nation in her Sunday night broadcast.

Many people have seen an allusion to Vera Lynn's wartime classic, but at least one commentator, noting the repeated use of the word 'again' and the Queen's own long held Christian faith, has detected a reference to resurrection faith.

My own thoughts when I heard Her Majesty saying the words 'we will meet again' turned to those wonderful words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4.13-18 which  speak of the living and the departing meeting together with the Lord in a joyful reunion on the day that he returns.

That hope is the subject of the final prayer in the funeral service:

May God in his infinite love and mercy bring the whole Church, living and departed in the Lord Jesus, to a joyful resurrection and the fulfilment of his eternal kingdom. Amen.

So, let's hold on to our resurrection faith, and know that, in Christ, we will meet again, both those living and departed in the Lord Jesus.

Maundy Thursday

Here is our specially extended edition of Bermondsey Daily Message for Maundy Thursday:

Here is a Bible Reading for today

And here are some songs to sing along to today:

Jesus Christ, I think uponyour sacrifice

Broken for me, broken foryou 

All to Jesus I surrender

And here is one for the kids and the whole family

Getting ready for Easter

In brilliant sunshine we recorded our Easter Sunday service yesterday in the Vicarage garden.

The service, complete with hymns and a couple of suprise guest appearances, will appear here on BermondseyVicar on Easter Day, also on our Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Wednesday in Holy Week

Here is today’s Bermondsey Daily Message:

Here is a Bible Reading for today

Here is a piece of music for today

Here is the special prayer for this week

Almighty and everlasting God,

who in your tender love towards the human race

sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ

to take upon him our flesh

and to suffer death upon the cross:

grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility,

and also be made partakers of his resurrection;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen

Tuesday in Holy Week

Here is today’s Bermondsey Daily Message

Here is a Bible Reading for today

Here is a piece of music for today

Here is the special prayer for this week

Almighty and everlasting God,

who in your tender love towards the human race

sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ

to take upon him our flesh

and to suffer death upon the cross:

grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility,

and also be made partakers of his resurrection;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen