Readings:
Malachi 3: 1-5;
Psalm 24: 7-end;
Hebrews 2: 14-end;
Luke 2: 22-40

Collect:
Almighty and ever-living God,
clothed in majesty,
whose beloved Son was this day presented in the Temple,
in substance of our flesh:
grant that we may be presented to you
with pure and clean hearts,
by your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

Reflection – based on Exodus 24: 3 – 11; John 15: 1-10

A couple of years ago members of the Partnership engaged in a reflection and discussion process called ‘Tending the Vine’. Do you remember that? It was a series of conversations designed to help us think about our life together as a community of Christians, asking the questions ‘Where is the fruit in our life together, to be celebrated and enjoyed; what is steadily growing and needs encouraging; and what is not working or unhelpful and needs to be pruned?’ Out of this process we formed our current vision – that we are a community of Christians Living in Love, Giving with Grace and Moving for Mission.

As we come to celebrate our annual Covenant Service this weekend, Jesus’ words as reported in John’s gospel are absolutely foundational to a community such as ours. If the pandemic has had a positive side (hard to countenance I know) then surely it must be the way that we have found ourselves working together, more and more closely, and reaping the benefits of our shared expertise, support and fellowship – all based on us being followers of Jesus. Actually, he calls us more than followers – in his eyes we’re his friends. Called to be his friends and called to be friends to one another.  

Now, most of us have different circles of friends, arranged a bit like the rings on a target. There’s the social media kind, many of whom we might never have met in person. Next there’s the work crowd, the folks from the gym, or sewing group, or book club or school run. A bit closer in we might have friends that we have shared quite a significant moment in life with – the antenatal group, perhaps, or friends from school or university. Still further in, and a smaller circle, are the friends we see regularly, might turn to in a crisis, spend a fair bit of time with. And then, almost the smallest and most central group (but not quite) are the few we count as special and very dear – more like family in fact. These are the ones whose needs are uppermost in our minds, the ones with whom we share our inner self as well as things, the relationship we might describe as a covenant. Committed, close, complete. 

A covenant relationship is characterised by love, by unconditional acceptance, by mutual flourishing. Love, grace and growth. This is the relationship Jesus calls us to have with one another – to be covenant level friends, not mere acquaintances. 

Our preacher for the Covenant Service this year, Ruth Wilde, represents the network we joined back in 2019 – Inclusive Church. An inclusive church is characterised by love, grace and growth. It’s a church that’s bound together in covenant friendship. And yet it’s also a community without walls, that welcomes all into that friendship. And importantly, this kind of community, this kind of friendship, has one more circle on the target ring. The essential part, that holds it all together and from where everything emanates. The gold, the bullseye, the centre, the core – Jesus. 

And so we come back to where we started – to that reading from John. “Abide in me” says Jesus. Put my way at the centre of all you do. Love one another in the same way as I have loved you – as the closest possible companions, as covenanted friends, so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

Sharon Grenham-Thompson