An Introduction to the Church of the Resurrection

The Church of the Resurrection is unusual in many respects. For a start it does not look like a normal Church building. It is designed to look like the tent that the people of Israel used for worship before the first temple was built. This presented some architectural problems and it is certainly worth looking up at the roof from the inside. If you do look you will then see how well the architect solved it. The seating in the Church is not in the standard straight row formation but instead forms a flattened semi circle.

The services are not what you might expect either. Using the freedom that Common Worship gives to the Church of England, we have tried to make the services more appealing to people who are not used to coming to Church and we are continually seeking to make what we do relevant to the people who join with us.

We welcome young families. We have a play area within the church for small children under the supervision of their parents, for use during services. The 'Bouncers' group for under-5s and their carers meets on Wednesday afternnons during term-time.

Finally, we are unusual in the people we are in the Church of the Resurrection. We come from many different backgrounds and different Church traditions and we seek to be accepting of everyone. We also have a woman Vicar. Whilst this is not unique, many more women are coming into leadership in the Church today, it is still unusual.

You will be sure of a warm welcome from our Vicar Janet Fife as well as from the rest of the congregation.

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It would have been enough

It would have been enough if God had revealed himself through the law and the prophets
~ without being born as one of us.

It would have been enough.

It would have been enough for God to have experienced our human condition
~ without showing by word and example how he wanted us to live.

It would have been enough.

It would have been enough for God's Son to leave us with his example and teaching
~ without being crucified for us.

It would have been enough.

It would have been enough for Jesus to have made the perfect sacrifice for us
~ without rising from the dead as the promise of our resurrection.

It would have been enough.

It would have been enough for him to reveal himself to his disciples
~ without ascending to heaven to pray for us.

It would have been enough.

It would have been enough for us to have a great High Priest in heaven
~ without his sending the Holy Spirit upon us.

It would have been enough.

It would have been enough to have the witness of the Spirit within us
~ without having the promise of a place prepared in heaven for us.

It would have been enough.

It would have been enough to know we have a place in heaven
~ without Jesus coming back again to take us back there.

It would have been enough.

By Rev Stephen Callis
Stephen Callis Counselling


Copyright Rev. Stephen Callis ©2008.