The Ouse Valley Benefice

Jesus Comforts his Disciples

The passage from John 14:1-14 is often called the ultimate comfort, where Jesus assures his disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” We often view this as a promise for the distant end of our lives—a guarantee of a heavenly destination. But I believe Jesus calls us to embrace this promise for the life we are living right now. The comfort of John 14 isn't just about a room prepared for us; it’s about the presence of Jesus as “the way and the truth and the life,” defining the spiritual journey we make daily. His presence remains the constant anchor for our lives.

Yet, this passage also presents a profound challenge. After promising his presence, Jesus commissions his followers to do "greater works" and calls us to live in such a way that others see the Father through us.

How are we equipped for this immense task? The answer lies in the Holy Spirit, who lives within us. If the Holy Spirit is present, then we effectively have God’s DNA within us. This indwelling power means we have the capacity to show people the way because of our relationship with the Trinity.

Our commission is unified and clear, echoing throughout scripture: love one another, let your light shine before others, and seek complete unity. This unity is not a secondary objective; it is strategic. As Jesus prayed for future believers, he asked that “all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you... so that the world may believe that you have sent me”. Unity is the evidence. Love is the sign.

When the world sees us—the family of God—serving with selflessness, forgiving with grace, and remaining one in Spirit, they are witnessing the tangible reality of the Father. This is how we fulfill those “greater works”. They are not superhuman feats, but the consistent, daily demonstration of God's love made complete in us.

So as we leave our time of worship and return to our daily routines, let our lives in the community be a clear reflection of that love. Let us demonstrate the reality of the Father by the way we serve, the way we forgive, and the way we remain one in Spirit. May we guide others to the peace that only Jesus can provide.

As you may be aware we have been developing proposals for formalise the Benefice Pastoral and Administration Team (effectively a meeting of the churchwardens) into a formal Joint Council. This is absolutely not a move to take power away from local PCCs. Each Church will still have control of their finances and responsibility for all local decisions. Each church will retain its individual identity. 

A Joint Council would however streamline the administration, the mission and ministry of the benefice and encourage joint working. For example, if we want to approve someone for lay ministry, we have to seek approval from 6 individual PCCs. Missing the intake deadline could delay training by a whole year. 

Informally, the Churchwarden have already been doing this sort of role since the benefice was created, but without the authority to make these decisions. For those areas where a shared Benefice decision makes sense, a Joint Council would be a huge benefit.

Each APCM meeting will be asked to vote on this proposal. Your can read the rationale and Frequently Asked Questions by clicking the links below.

Weekly Church of England Online Service

Do you know someone who is unable to get to church? 

If so, why not point them in the direction of the weekly online service from the Church of England. They can sign up to a weekly mailing with details of the service and watch each of the services online. Click the button below for more details and to sign up.