church@five

The women are running. Full of fear… and joy. They’ve just encountered the reality that changes everything. Jesus is alive. And then Jesus meets them on the road. Not in a temple. Not in a big moment. Just… on the way. And his words are simple: Don’t be afraid. Go and tell. It’s not complicated. No big strategy. No perfect plan. Just go. Tell what you’ve seen. Tell who he is. Tell what he’s done. I love that this starts with ordinary people, carrying extraordinary news. And that’s still the invitation. In our community, in everyday life, in the normal rhythms…we carry resurrection hope. We don’t have to have all the answers. We just need to be willing to go and tell. Because Jesus is already ahead of us, meeting people on the way.

Peter and John are on their way to pray, an ordinary moment, in their ordinary rhythm. And then they stop. A man who’s been overlooked for years is sitting at the gate, asking for money. Everyone else walks past, but they don’t. And what strikes me is this. Peter is really clear about what he doesn’t have… but even more clear about what he doeshave. “What I do have I give you.” In our community, it can be easy to feel like we don’t have enough. Not enough money, not enough resource, not enough influence. But this flips it. Because the power was never in what they had materially, it was in who they carried. They carried the name of Jesus. And that was enough to change everything. This isn’t about having loads, it’s about knowing what we’ve been given… and being willing to give it away. So today, maybe the question isn’t, what do I lack? But what has Jesus already placed in my hands? And who might need that today?

Jesus says this in the middle of teaching about the lamp on a stand. It’s not just a warning, it’s an invitation. Light is what the Kingdom does. It reveals, restores, and realigns. Hiddenness can feel safer. We tuck things away, manage appearances, keep control. But what stays hidden doesn’t stay harmless. It quietly shapes us, isolates us, and drains life. Darkness always diminishes. But Jesus doesn’t expose to shame, he reveals to heal. When things come into the light, they lose their power. Confession isn’t about being caught out, it’s about being set free. The light of Jesus is not harsh, it’s kind. It names what’s real so that grace can meet it. Same life. Same heart. But brought into the light, and everything changes.

It’s so simple, but it changes everything. “Mary.” Not a sermon. Not an explanation. Just her name. She’s grieving, confused, overwhelmed. Jesus is there, but she can’t see him yet. And then he speaks her name… and suddenly she knows. That’s what Jesus does. He meets us right in the middle of whatever we’re carrying. Not with distance, but with closeness. Not with noise, but with knowing. He knows our name. He knows our story. He knows what today feels like. And sometimes it’s not about figuring everything out. It’s about hearing his voice again.

This Psalm is all about remembering. Remembering who God is. Remembering what he’s done. Remembering that he is faithful… even when the journey has been long. It looks back over God’s story with his people. Not a perfect people… but a people God stayed with. That’s the invitation for us too. In the middle of everything going on, don’t forget to remember. Remember the times he’s provided. The times he’s made a way. The times he’s been faithful when you didn’t know how it would work out. Because remembering builds.

Mary just pours it out. No holding back. No calculation. No worrying what others think. She gives Jesus her best, and it fills the whole house. That’s what real worship does. It spills over. It changes the atmosphere. It might look too much to others. Too costly. Too full on. But Jesus receives it. After all he poured everything out for us. So we don’t hold back from him.

They were behind locked doors. Afraid. Unsure. Everything had happened so fast… the cross, the rumours, the empty tomb. And then Jesus comes and stands among them. Not with disappointment. Not with “where were you?” But with peace. “Peace be with you.” He meets them right there in their fear and confusion. And then he sends them. Not once they’ve got it all together. Not once their faith is perfect. Right there, as they are. And Thomas… he gets a moment too. Honest doubt. Real questions. And Jesus meets him in that as well. No shame. Just invitation. This is who Jesus is. He comes into our locked rooms. He speaks peace over us. And he still sends us. Not because we’re ready. But because he is with us.

This Sunday at church@five we’re exploring the call to persevere 💪✨ Life isn’t always easy, but we don’t walk it alone 🤝 Come and encounter Jesus 🙏🔥 Worship, pray, and learn together as we keep going with him 👣 Stay after for food and friendship 🍽️💬 Sunday, 5pm 🕔 Green Man Community Centre N2 9BA 📍 Everyone welcome. Come as you are 💛✨ @churchofengland @dioceseoflondon

We all know what it is to feel weak. Worn down. Running on empty. But this reminds us… our strength doesn’t come from trying harder. It comes from him. God doesn’t just cheer us on from a distance. He is our strength. He holds us up when we can’t hold ourselves. And not just strength to get through…strength to stand, to keep going, to keep trusting, to keep showing up. He is our defence too. When life feels like too much, when things come against us, we’re not on our own. And because of Jesus, we know this for sure, he has become our salvation. So, we don’t have to strive. We stay close. And let his strength carry us.

Jesus doesn’t ascend from the temple, the crowds, or the centre of power. He leads them to Bethany. Bethany was a place of friendship. A home. A table. People who knew him and loved him. Not polished. Not impressive. Just real. And it’s just outside Jerusalem. On the edge. Away from the spotlight. That’s where he chooses to leave from. It says something about the kind of kingdom Jesus is building. Not from platforms, but from people. Not from the centre, but from the edges. Not from performance, but from relationship. He leaves from a place of love. And he sends them out from there. And it’s the same for us. Jesus meets us in the ordinary, in our homes, our communities… and sends us out from there.

The disciples are stood right in front of the risen Jesus… and still, they’re troubled. Still, they doubt. And if I’m honest, that feels familiar. We can know the story, we can have seen God move before, and yet trouble rises up again. Doubt creeps back in. It can feel louder than truth. But Jesus doesn’t shame them. He draws closer. “Look at my hands and my feet… it is I myself.” In other words, remember me. Remember what I’ve done. Remember who I am. When trouble and doubt start to overwhelm, we don’t have to wrestle them down on our own. We lift our eyes again. We come back to Jesus. His scars. His victory. His faithfulness. He is the same Jesus who’s carried you before. He’ll carry you again.

I love this moment on the Emmaus road. They’re confused, disappointed, trying to make sense of it all. And Jesus comes alongside them… but they don’t recognise him. They’d seen what he did. They knew he was from God. But they hadn’t yet understood who he truly was, the Messiah who had died and risen for them. And still… Jesus walks with them. He doesn’t wait for perfect understanding. He meets them in the middle of their questions, their doubt, their half-formed faith. That’s true for us too. Jesus walks with us on the journey, whether we feel like skeptics, seekers, or steady believers. He’s there in the questions, in the confusion, in the slow dawning of faith. And as we follow him, we’re called to do the same for others. To walk with people. Not rush them. Not force answers. But be present, listen, and gently point to Jesus along the way. Because often, it’s in the walking together that eyes begin to open.

🎉 He Is Risen 🎉 Come and celebrate Easter with us this Sunday 🗓 Sunday 5th April 🕔 5pm 📍 Green Man Community Centre, N2 9BA A relaxed, family-friendly service with free tea, gifts, and a warm welcome for everyone Whether it’s your first time or you’ve been before, you’re really welcome. Come as you are 💛

A wonderful afternoon exploring #GoodFriday together @churchofengland @dioceseoflondon

✨ Join us TOMORROW ✨ As we explore the story of Good Friday together 🕒 3pm 📍 Green Man Community Centre, N2 9BA Crafts, activities, food and gifts for everyone All ages welcome and it’s completely free Come as you are, we’d love to see you 😊

✨ Join us this Friday ✨ As we explore the story of Good Friday together 🕒 3pm 📍 Green Man Community Centre, N2 9BA Crafts, activities, food and gifts for everyone All ages welcome and it’s completely free Come as you are, we’d love to see you 😊 @dioceseoflondon @churchofengland