Have any of you had a surprise recently? A surprise phone call? Or a surprise left on your doorstep?
I had a surprise this week – on Easter Sunday Louise got me my favourite Easter Egg, and not just 1 – a box of 12 of the marvellous things – crème eggs!
We’re in the first week of Easter, and this week I’ve been looking at some of the resurrection stories in John’s gospel. I’ve noticed more then I have done before how Jesus doesn’t appear in the temple – the place of worship, but in houses and homes, to people walking and working.
In the resurrection encounters with Jesus, perhaps it’s fair to say Jesus appears to people in isolation, on daily exercise, or working as keyworkers!
One of those passages is John 20:19-22:
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’
After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’
When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.
If you’ve ever been with me when I’ve led a home communion service, you’ll know I often use this passage. I find it a helpful passage for home communion because in the surprise that Jesus appears in locked room, we are reminded of the truth that Jesus comes to us where we are, in our houses and homes.
And not only that, but Jesus says receive the Holy Spirit, an ever present comforter and strengthener – the very presence of God. I’ve found that a great comfort and strength this week as I seek to live in the resurrection.
Over the last few weeks I’ve been really encouraged by way Jesus is ministering among us even though we’re physically distance from one another. I’ve found the testimonies and stories I’ve hearing in phone calls, emails, messages and on the blog an inspiration. So please keep sharing your stories of Jesus at work!
Always be ready to notice Jesus at work – because you never know what’s coming next!
Share your Story
So that’s one of the ways God has been in my week – what about you?
Where has God been in your week?
How might God be surprising you?
What ways are you finding strength and encouragement?
Comment below and share your stories of God with us, in us and among us.
Rev Dan Balsdon's Blog 
One good thing to come out of lock down is that we have both had time to catch up with old friends. We’ve been on the phone for at least an hour a day chatting to voices from the past, mainly in Cheshire. Our rural community in South Cheshire have set up streaming so that they can still worship together and are reconnecting with the ‘incomers’ in the barn conversions as well. They are very pleased with their new outreach efforts! Our friends in South Manchester are not so enterprising but are still staying in touch with church friends. The countryside was always better at communicating than the the town! Yet, they of course are used to being a mile or so from their nearest ‘neighbour’. It all brings me back to the question of ‘who is my neighbour ?’. With email contact with friends in USA, Scotland and France as well, our ‘neighbours’ are well scattered but still together as an online community supporting each other. As we take our daily half hour walk round this neighbourhood where we now live, we have met more people than ever, talking over their garden fence (2m apart!) . So, thanks to our Lord who links us with so many kind and caring people at this difficult time. Long may the ‘neighbours’ continue to support each other.Perhaps a new idea of church is already well and growing out there.
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