photos from circuit members

Hymn

​1. When I survey the wond'rous Cross
On which the Prince of Glory dy'd,
My richest Gain I count but Loss,
And pour Contempt on all my Pride.

2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the Death of Christ my God:
All the vain Things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his Blood.

3. See from his Head, his Hands, his Feet,
Sorrow and Love flow mingled down!
Did e'er such Love and Sorrow meet?
Or Thorns compose so rich a Crown?

4. His dying Crimson, like a Robe,
Spreads o'er his Body on the Tree;
Then am I dead to all the Globe,
And all the Globe is dead to me.

5. Were the whole Realm of Nature mine,
That were a Present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my Soul, my Life, my All.

Food For Thought

Read the Bible passage Mark 15:21-38

After his betrayal Jesus’ journey travels slowly but surely towards his imminent death through crucifixion.
There is a great irony in that as a son of a carpenter  Jesus is nailed to the cross made of wood probably of a local olive tree , the same wood which may have been used to make furniture by his father. It’s as if the wood from the forest turns from something beautiful into something sinister and ugly. So now betrayed and deserted by his friends Jesus succumbs to his fate probably holding the words of the prayer he had prayed in the nearby Garden of Gethsemene close to his heart “not my will but yours be done” . Our final challenge is walk the walk with Jesus through the confusion and darkness of the forest  as he travels towards his crucifixion on a wooden cross. 

Questions to Ponder

 1.   Jesus must have been confused and deeply hurt as he was faced death. Do you think mental pain of loneliness, abandonment, betrayal  and isolation can be as bad if not worse than physical pain sometimes?

2. Jesus was taunted, mocked and suffered extreme bullying by the soldiers before his death. Has bullying ever been an issue for you or for someone you love? How was it dealt with? Is reconciliation always possible?

3. In his time of great suffering and pain Jesus cries out to God “My God, my God why did you abandon me?”  Have you ever felt abandoned by God? How did you work that through that and remain a Christian disciple?