February March 2008

The Road Ahead

I remember as a child walking along country lanes and wondering what was round the next corner or going on holiday getting excited looking for my first view of the sea. I think one the reasons I still love to holiday in Cornwall is that you never know when you will come to another lovely little cove. However, it can be rather different these days as GPS navigation systems show us the route ahead and a friendly onboard computer voice tells us when to take a turning and warns of hazards ahead. Very comforting but it takes away a little of the anticipation.

Perhaps you have often wondered what's ahead of you - not the road ahead - but rather your future, the road you are travelling in life. The thing is, it's a bit different in life, we often want to see the way ahead but it's not possible. Instead we just have to walk the road and in some way try to cope with all that life throws at us. Don and I have been walking a difficult road over the last six months not knowing quite what the future will be but we have relied on the guidance of God who has not only been our GPS but also our strength and peace.

At Christ Church we have also been looking at the way forward: to be a welcoming family church; to reach out to those in need; to help foster Community Spirit and tell others of the love of God. During the last year we have been developing ways to do this by hosting family events and services, providing teaching every week for our children, setting up a pastoral care group, organising our Community Christmas Tree Festival and inviting people to think about what faith means in today's world. We have also been discussing how we can develop our two old buildings both in need of refurbishment. After having an offer for the Church Hall and months of discussions with Church authorities we have eventually decided to sell the Hall and use the money to improve the facilities at the Church site to replace those lost by the Hall. So the road ahead for the Church is both exciting and full of anticipation but we feel that in the future we will have a building which is warm and inviting with facilities for a variety of events. As we journey along this road we will look to the experts but also to the guidance of God for support and to show us the way. We do hope you to will be able to give us your support as we take this step into a new future for Christ Church.

In the meantime we look forward to walking the journey towards Easter starting with our Pancake Party and then our Lent course. Lent is a time of reflection as we remember that lonely walk that Jesus made towards the cross. He suffered all that just for us - that we might be forgiven and by his resurrection receive the gift of eternal life. Do join us to explore the wonderful mystery of Christ's passion.

I pray for each one of you as you travel the road into the future that you might know New Life in Jesus and guidance and strength from God.

Every Blessing

Be strong and Courageous . .

Did you manage to get a ride on the Nottingham Eye? Don and I went into town on the tram and it happened to be the first day that the Eye was open. As soon as I saw it I knew that Don would want a ride and I was already feeling a little scared inside,

Lots of people were queuing and Don was keen to join them. It looked so high and the gondolas so small. Apparently it had taken a week to erect - I looked around: it did seem quite solid. I took a deep breath and said, "Ok". I must say there was sense of excitement in the queue - people of all ages wanting to view the city. Eventually our turn came and we started to move towards the top - I was holding on to Don's arm even though I couldn't have possibly fallen out.

It was a beautiful clear day: the views were fantastic right over the city. The whole experience was very exhilarating and I am so glad that I beat the fear. I enjoyed it so much that I went on again when our son came to visit! Just think I might have missed the whole experience if I had given in to my natural caution.

In life we often have to do things that make us fearful, like having an injection or going to the dentist even though we know it's good for us.

Maybe there are other times when we are apprehensive and it stops us experiencing new things.

In the Bible we read about Joshua who was also feeling apprehensive. At the time Moses had just died and Joshua was charged with leading the people of Israel into the promised land. He was thinking "This job is too big for me" But God said to Joshua "Be strong and courageous . . . . for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” ( Joshua 1) . By trusting God for help and strength Joshua led the people out of the wilderness into Canaan.

The apostle Paul writing to Timothy many centuries later also said "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." ( 1 Timothy 2:7). I have had to remind myself of this verse many times when I have been tempted to duck out of something that was rather daunting.

It reminds us that God will be with us in every situation, he will help us conquer our fears if we put our trust in Him.

So . . . . Be Strong and Courageous!

Every Blessing

Joan

Have you a heart of Compassion?

These last few weeks our television screens have been filled with pictures of disaster.

The cyclone in Burma and the earthquake in China has left us shocked by the loss of life but also the plight of millions of people who need food, water, shelter and medicines. It's hard to imagine ourselves in their position but none of us can fail to be touched by the misery and despair we have seen.

We all have our own opinions about how the two governments have tackled the situation but in the face so much agony the intrinsic difference is in the heart of the leaders. How can leaders in Burma ignore the plight of their people? They seem to have hearts of stone - rather than hearts of compassion. Let us pray that those hearts might be softened so that those millions of people might receive all the aid they need.

One of the great characteristics of Jesus was his compassionate heart - he had time for those people who were sick, sad and lonely and those who were despised. He was always on the side of the 'underdog' whereas in our world today many people want to be 'topdog' and the 'underdog' doesn't matter. It's all a matter of the heart. Perhaps you too have met many hard-hearted people and wonder why they do not care for others. However, none of us are immune - perhaps we too can become desensitised by so much suffering.

St Paul said

"For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them" NIV Acts 28:27

Perhaps we have to admit that many times we turn away from overwhelming need whether it is on the TV or right in the centre of our community - we don't always want to see or hear. Our hearts too can become calloused.

At Christ Church, we have just been celebrating Pentecost when we recall the outpouring of the Holy Spirit into the hearts of the believers - a promise prophesised in the Old Testament and also revealed by Jesus. God promises:

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 6:26

We have to admit that we all can be hard-hearted at times so let us ask God to give us hearts of compassion. God offers to fill us with His compassion and give us power and strength in our everyday life.

Let's all ask God to pour out His Spirit into our hearts, so that we can respond to the needs of others and fulfil the tasks he sets before us here in our community.

As part of our response to the needs of others Don and I are having

Open House at the Vicarage on Saturday 26th July 11.00am - 5pm
to support WaterAid .

We will be serving morning coffee, Lunchtime Barbecue and afternoon teas. There will be no charge but we hope you might make a generous donation. We will also be having a Bring and Buy stall. There will be opportunity for children to play in the garden.

It's so easy for us - we have clean water when we turn on our taps - in some countries they have to walk for miles. Let us help to change people's lives.

May God give us all compassionate hearts

Joan

"Commitment"

I don't know about you but I'm not so keen on the dark nights when it's really dark by teatime - I'd rather have the long summer nights when I can potter around in the garden. However, we know that spring is just around the corner.

We may well look around the world at the moment and think that it seems dark - the credit crunch has touched everyone and the fear of the depression and unemployment has made us all cautious about how we spend our money. We look into the future with a certain amount of apprehension. But it's not all doom & gloom! We still have much to be thankful for compared with those in the Congo or Zimbabwe.

Our Remembrance Service recalled to mind those war years when people lived with fear for the future and there was shortages of everything - people had to adapt. But then there was a real community spirit when every pulled together and were willing to help friends and neighbours who were in trouble. Perhaps we need to see a bit more of that spirit today. Our Christingle Service reminds us of a light shining in the darkness and points us towards Christmas when we remember our Saviour, born as a tiny vulnerable baby, who would face many trials and eventually death on the cross. Jesus went through so much in his short life, all for us that we might be forgiven and put right with God. He knows what it's like to be facing difficult days ahead and wants to help us. Christmas is a time of Celebration - to wonder, remember and be thankful of that amazing gift to us. Trouble is we get so bogged down with the trimmings that we forget what it's all about. His light is still shining today - Immanuel - God with us - then and now. The picture is the famous painting by Holman Hunt: Jesus - "The light of the world." "Will Jesus be the light of your world this Christmas?" Joan

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