Mike, I nearly asked you if you remember what you were doing this time last week but you were here!
I heard you talking to Dave Mathias about the Euros and particularly the
England game –The nation was full of anticipation.
This time last week the St Georges flags were flying from cars and houses alike
This time last week hope was rising ,optimism was in the air
surely we would beat the Italians and progress to the semi finals …..even I thought we had a chance
It didn’t quite turn out like that … I got back
from the evening service bang on time for kick off (strange coincidence
that!) The TV was already on I was ready to go The rest as
they say is history they also say history repeats itself and as far as England
goes it sure does following.. the tension and stress of the game we
witnessed the 12 yard lottery of penalties and of course we lost!!
Ecstasy followed by inevitable agony….the carnival is over for us
But I am here today to say all is not lost there is still the
opportunity to celebrate this summer ,to party
The Diamond Jubilee celebrations continue indeed - Shropshire Diamond Jubilee Pageant is being held at RAF Cosford, in presence of Queen and Duke of Edinburgh on July 12th
Then ,of course there are the Olympics we can
celebrate every gold,silver or bronze medal even if it is in some minor sport
that none of us have ever heard of ,or would usually pay attention to.
There will be plenty of opportunities for the nation to party
I think that is great
Yes there are times to grieve and to be sad but there is also a
time to celebrate
It is important to celebrate on a local as well as national level
In the last week I was present as a couple renewed the marriage vows
they had first taken at Shrewsbury Register Office 38 years ago –children,
grand children ,great grand children came along to celebrate
I was also present at a splendid 10th birthday party for our
churches women’s ministry CLEO
You don’t have to be a card manufacturer to think that it’s important to
mark special occasions
Remembering someone’s birthday ,taking a colleague who is retiring out
for a drink, marking an exam success ,all these make people feel valued ,cared
for ,wanted
There is power in celebration!
As I read the gospels I am astonished just how much time Jesus spent
eating and drinking, so much that his enemies accused him of doing it to
excess, he goes to a wedding turns water into wine, he eats at the home of
Mathew the tax collector, he feeds 5000 people he has a last supper with his
followers even after the resurrection he eats fish with the disciples. As one
writer puts it” in the gospels Jesus always appears to be going to a meal at a
meal or coming from a meal ,often he was celebrating” No wonder Luke tells us
“The Son of Man came eating and drinking”
Not everyone approved of these celebrations many religious people said
why is he eating with these sinners ?
But Jesus loves people he loves parties he loves celebrating.
Mark those special occasions in people’s lives, throw a party for them
it need not be expensive ,it doesn’t have to be grand or ostentatious -,display
an” attitude of gratitude” to your family & friends- show them you care
……perhaps even more radically bless others and throw a party for
people who have little Jesus said when you give a feast invite the poor
the crippled the lame the blind and you will be blessed … they may not be able
to repay you but God will
So forget the euros ….let it go! Barring a miracle ..(which is
always possible ) we won’t even win the world cup in two years time but
we still have loads of reasons to party and to celebrate this summer!
