What’s Happening

Bi-weekly update 24/11/2021

Posted by admin on 25th November 2021

Dear Church family,

This Sunday is Advent Sunday when we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ first coming to redeem us by remembering His return to establish His kingdom.

Paul speaks of Jesus’ two comings in his letter to Titus (2:11-13) in these words:
‘For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ …’                                                                                                        Titus 2:11-13
Jesus came 2,000 years ago to assure all who trust Him of acceptance and welcome, at His return.

This puts things into perspective:In an age where ‘now’ is all that matters, it reminds us that ‘then’ is more important.In an age of distraction, it reminds us that the one thing that’s necessary is to sit at His feet and listen to Him.In an age where many voices compete for our attention, it reminds us that His is the one voice that we must heed.In an age of leisure and pleasure, it reminds us that we’re to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and trust that will bring us the pleasure and rest we yearn for.In an age of self-indulgence, it reminds us that really what we need is self-control.Advent Sunday is the perfect opportunity to ask ourselves: ‘Would I be ready to welcome Him if He came back tonight?’, ‘Are my loved ones and neighbours ready for His return?’, and ‘Might they appreciate an invitation to our Christmas celebrations?’
Your brother in Christ, 
Ian

Bi-weekly update 10/11/2021

Posted by admin on 10th November 2021
On Sunday the 21st November Phoebe Woodcraft is going to be baptised.It’ll be the first Baptism we’ve had at Church for some time, and something special to look forward to. Please pray for Phoebe, who is going to speak about how the Lord has been at work in her life to bring her to this significant point. And please pray for her Dad, Adam, who is preaching that day.Baptism is known as a ‘Dominical ordinance’ – something that Jesus, our Lord, has ‘ordained’ or commanded His followers to do. His last words recorded in Matthew 28:19 are: 
‘Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit …’                                                                                                        Matthew 28:19
We hear the Good news of who Jesus is and what He came to do in the preached word.

And that same message is ‘spoken’ in the act of Baptism – it’s a sacrament – a picture of the new, eternal life that we have when we come to Jesus as Lord and ask for His forgiveness.

It’s a good opportunity to invite friends and family to Church. And please come and join our autumn Passion for life training series in the Parish Hall, on Tuesday evenings from 6.30 ( for a simple meal at 6.30 ) and discussion from 7pm – 8pm. 

And with Christmas ahead, we have more to celebrate and sing about – please have a chat with Denise if you might be interested in joining the Choir this year? And with Jon who needs help on the tech team. 
Your brother in Christ, 
Ian

Bi-weekly update 27/10/2021

Posted by admin on 4th November 2021
Dear Church Family,

We’re celebrating harvest late this year on Saturday 13th November at 7 pm in the hall with a harvest supper – it’s always a great opportunity to thank God for his goodness.

November is also the month of remembrance. This year many of us are remembering lost loved ones and opportunities. The pandemic reminds us how fragile life is; and how our plans are in God’s hands. Both harvest and remembrance remind us that life is God’s gift. He gives us our lives, and he came to give His life for us to have eternal life with Him.

In John 4:35f, Jesus gives ‘living water’ to the Samaritan woman at the well; she tells everyone about Him, and the whole village comes out to find him; as he saw the crowd coming towards him, Jesus said:
‘Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that the sower and reaper may rejoice together.’                                                                                                        John 4:35
Our privilege is to point the sick and dying to the Life-giving healer: Jesus Christ. Knowing Him makes us thankful for this life, and all that sustains it, and thankful for those who have died trusting Him because for them the best is yet to come.

A friend’s mother died recently; she followed Jesus and he was able to say her life now is ‘better by far’ than her life before she died.

There is great reward and joy in making Him known; so as we begin to plan ahead for Passion for Life 2022 please keep Tuesday Evenings from 6:30 pm (for food) or 7 pm (for the training session) free as we seek to equip ourselves with the tools to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others.
Your brother in Christ, 
Ian

Bi-weekly update 13/10/2021

Posted by admin on 13th October 2021

Dear Church Family,

All the seasons have their charm. Autumn is a lovely time. The colours are beautiful and the days are crisp; good for getting things done.

For some it is a challenging time. As the days get shorter, we prepare for the clocks to go back an hour on 31 October.

Halloween is also coming up on the 31 October; the pre-christian Druids apparently told people to dress up like goblins and witches as a disguise to divert the evil spirits’ attention away from their feast to mark the end of the summer light and start of winter’s darkness. 

The coming of the Gospel made all that unnecessary. Jesus is the Lord of light and life who banishes the darkness before the feet of all who follow Him:Jesus says in John 8:12:
‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’                                                                                                        John 8:12
On October 31 this month we’re having a ‘light party’ to celebrate the victory of Jesus Christ over the powers of darkness. Your children and grandchildren are warmly invited to come – the invitation is below.

As the nights get longer, Jesus is the one who banishes the darkness of sin and death and fear. He is the light we have to share in this season of celebration and joy, as this spoken word by Glen Scrivener explains … Your brother in Christ,
Ian

Bi-weekly update 29/09/2021

Posted by admin on 29th September 2021

Dear Church Family,

As we continue to find our feet after the pandemic, things need attention.

Our Church family finances is one of those things. Like many other Churches and community groups, we’ve lost income from rentals, and many of us haven’t been able to give as before.

In April and June this year, our fixed monthly expenditure was £650 and £1,700 respectively higher than our income. This is obviously a trend that we need to address prayerfully.

Paul reminds us of God’s generosity to us in 2 Corinthians 8:9 –
‘For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.’’                                                                                                        2 Corinthians 8:9
Because God gives us the priceless gift of His peace at his own expense, we want to give so that others may hear of His grace freely and fully.
Not everyone is in a position to give. Some should consider giving less. Others are able to give more. Whatever our situation, let’s give joyfully, in thanksgiving for the Lord’s generosity to us.

There are several ways to give, but however you do, please try to give a fixed regular amount (which you should review annually or as/when your financial circumstances change) as this makes it much easier for the PCC to budget and manage the church’s spending.
Regular giving can be set up by Standing Order through your bank (forms available here, but many banks allow you to set this up online or over the telephone) or by Credit/Debit card through “Give A Little” where you can also make one-off donations.

You can still donate cash through the collection plate on Sunday mornings and if you are a taxpayer, please put your donation into an envelope (marked with your name or giving no.) so we can claim “Gift Aid” on your donation. Gift Aid is a tax refund we can claim from the government which increases your donation by 20% at no further cost to you, so if you are a taxpayer please make sure you complete a “Gift Aid form” or tick the “Gift Aid box” when giving online.
Probably, like me, you haven’t reviewed your giving for a while? Please ask me if I’ve done this next time we meet – life is busy and I need to be reminded. We can help each other as we pray that the Lord’s work won’t lack the Lord’s means.

Your brother in Christ,
Ian

Bi-weekly update 15/9/2021

Posted by admin on 20th September 2021

Dear Church Family,

Most of us living in ‘the West’ have similar longings: we want freedom, fairness, and a fruitful, flourishing life. The question is, how are those aspirations going to be fulfilled??

Most assume it is by looking within ourselves. By discovering who we are, and being true to ourselves … by doing what’s right for me … being authentically myself … because I myself am the ultimate authority … following my dream is the right thing to do … the fruitful way to live.

But there are some warning bells – the divorce rate climbs, the birth rate declines; mental health declines, the number of ‘safe spaces’ increases; desire for sexual fullfilment increases, the number of people enjoying sex declines; the egalitarian dream is embraced, the gulf between the sexes and social groups widens; the opportunities to ‘be myself’ multiplies, the confidence in ‘who I am’ declines.

Is our culture really delivering what it promises? Perhaps it is time to ask, is there a better story? In John 10:10 Jesus says:

“I have come that you may have life and have it to the full.’

Anyone who reads a gospel honestly would say that Jesus’ life was fruitful. 

He wasn’t married, but taught that marriage is designed to be for life, and to be honoured by all.

He didn’t have a sexual relationship, but enjoyed a depth of friendship with men and women that was deep and strong.

He had pressure from his family, but protected them and remained true to them to the end.

Perhaps there is a better story? 

If you’re over 16, come along to the Parish Hall at 6.30 this Tuesday 21 September and the following 4 Tuesdays for a light meal and our ‘Better Story’ series from 7.15-8.30pm. There will be life stories, talks, and discussions around the Bible. We’ll be asking if there is a better way to have the fruitful, flourishing lives we all yearn for? 

Your brother in Christ,

Ian

Bi-weekly update 18/08/2021

Posted by admin on 18th August 2021
The Church of England has asked us to discuss marriage and what we think about human sexuality. It probably isn’t your preferred topic and it isn’t mine either. But it is what the media regularly raises and it is what our denomination is asking us to discuss in a project called ‘living in love and faith – LLF for short.One of the positive things about this is it gives us an opportunity to think about our ‘identity:’ The question ‘who am I?’ is one most of us ask at some time.Last week we noted that the Bible talks about all of us ‘falling short of the glory of God’ and our sexuality along with all the rest of us being dented by the reality of sin. So, the question is: where are we going to find healing for this and every area of our lives?The answer is in Christ – The identity that matters most is our identity in Christ. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17
‘Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.’                                                                                                        2 Corinthians 5:17  
The good news is that through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross we can have peace with God, our sins forgiven and the restoration of God’s image. This will only happen fully at Christ’s return. Meanwhile, all who come to Him are filled with His Spirit and are being transformed into his likeness in every area of our lives including our sexuality. Christians now live a life centred on Christ, and are gradually becoming like Him who is the perfect man, who relates to women with perfect purity and perfect other centred love.Whoever we are, He takes all who come to Him and starts transforming us into His likeness by the work of His Spirit within. With all the confusion around having a rock like Him and the promise of becoming like him is great news. Please plan to join the discussion @ ‘a better story’ from 21 September 2021 in the Parish Hall to think more about these things,

Your brother in Christ,
Ian

Bi-Weekly Update 04/08/2021

Posted by admin on 4th August 2021

Dear Church family

Living in love and faith – join the discussion

The Church of England has asked us to discuss marriage and what we think about human sexuality. It probably isn’t your preferred topic and it isn’t mine either. But it is what the media regularly raises and it is what our denomination is asking us to discuss in a project called ‘living in love and faith – LLF for short.

One of the positive things about this is that it gives us an opportunity to think about the important issue of ‘identity.’

We’ve all asked: ‘who am I?’ The question of identity goes to the core of our being. For decades now, artists like Madonna and David Bowie have been ‘reinventing themselves’ in a variety of different identities for different phases of their music. The question ‘who am I?’ no longer has a static answer. For many now, ‘I am whoever I think I am,’ because ‘I am whoever I say I am.’

Last week we saw from Genesis 1:26-27 that God our maker gives us our essential identity as those who are made in his image as male and female. 

But what about those who experience gender dysphoria – the condition of feeling one’s emotional and psychological identity to be at variance with one’s birth sex?

First to say that our hearts go out to people with this experience, it is profoundly unsettling. 

It’s tempting to say that God intended some people to be like this, because he made us all. But it isn’t that simple. Genesis 3 tells us that God’s good creation has been spoiled by sin – Adam and Eve distrusted the Lord, and this attitude has been our default ever since. Paul tells us in Romans 3:23

‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’

The whole creation, starting with us humans, has been distorted by sin and every part of every person is affected, including our sexuality. Gender dysphoria is one of many ways in which our sexuality has been dented. All of us depart from God’s perfect plan and each of us needs to admit this and ask forgiveness and seek help where needed.

The question is where is help to be found? Read the next newsletter to find out. And plan to join the discussion @ ‘a better story’ from 21 September 2021 in the Parish Hall.

Your brother in Christ,

Ian

Weekly Update 15/07/2021

Posted by admin on 15th July 2021

Dear Church Family,

Living in love and faith / a better story – join the discussion
The Church of England has asked us to discuss marriage and what we think about human sexuality. It probably isn’t your preferred topic and it isn’t mine either. But it is what the media regularly raises and it is what our denomination is asking us to discuss in a project called ‘living in love and faith – LLF for short.
One of the positive things about this is that it gives us an opportunity to remember the importance of marriage in the Bible: Hebrews 13:4 says:Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure …
In the words of Ray Ortland:it’s “falling to our generation to raise up a prophetic counterculture in the face of the sexual revolution’s direct attack on marriage.” To do this we have to understand that:

  1. God’s plan for marriage is to reflect his image (Gen 1:26): The Trinity is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; they are one and yet still individual persons. When a couple gets married, they are meant to demonstrate this. Marriage demonstrates two individual people becoming “one” for the rest of their lives while maintaining their individuality.
  2. God’s plan for marriage is to raise godly children. It is not God’s will for everybody to have children. Physical issues keep some from having children. Yet, one of God’s reasons for marriage is to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28). It is not just children He wants but godly children. He wants children who are holy and who want to see His kingdom advance. One of the parents’ highest purposes is to teach their children the Bible, to help them grow in character, and to help them find their spiritual gifts and calling in serving the Lord.
  3. God’s plan for marriage is for joyful, intimate companionship. God has put a desire in humankind for intimate companionship. The intimacy of the physical and emotional relationship of a couple in a good marriage is an illustration of the depth and passion of the love God has for us, his Church. God calls us, His Church, His beloved bride (Hosea 2:19), and whether married or single, this is how He loves us.
  4. Marriage is important for our discussions this autumn. Come along to: LLF / ‘A better story’ on Tuesday 21 September in the Parish Hall.  After the separation of lockdown this is a great opportunity to get together for this important 5 week series!

Your brother in Christ,
Ian

For more on marriage in the Bible –  Understanding Marriage is a great twenty minute introduction to the biblical teaching on marriage from Dr Kirsten Birkett, with an accompanying printable handout.

Weekly Update 9/6/2021

Posted by admin on 15th June 2021

Dear Church family,

Last Sunday recorded a number of firsts: it was the first full service to be live streamed in real time from the main Church building – you can join us live at home any Sunday at 10:45 now –  but it’s always best being there in person. And it was the first time we’ve gathered around the Lord’s table this year; and also it was the first time we’ve met around the Lord’s table in the main Church building for 15 years.

Something of the significance of the ‘Lord’s supper’ is summed up in 1 Corinthians 11:26

‘For as often as you eat the bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.’

There’s a present, a past, and a future aspect to sharing the bread and wine together:

In the present, the Lord, our host, invites us to come together as His family around His table: ‘for as often as you eat and drink …’. Ours is the joy of knowing that for his own purposes He has chosen to make us His Sons and daughters. In the words of the song: we who were ‘once his enemies, are now seated round His table.’ We look around the table and see our rescued brothers and sisters, our new family, and we rejoice that even death will not separate us.

In the past, our King and elder brother made this meal possible by sacrificing Himself on the cross for us: ‘you proclaim the Lord’s death,’ means that, at this meal, we look back and remember with gratitude and praise, what Jesus has done to make it possible for us to be at this table. We bask in the love that paid the ultimate price to bring us into His family.

In the future, we look forward to the time we’ll be part of the great banquet in heaven: ‘until he comes,’ refers to the glorious return of Jesus as Judge and ruler of this world and the next. At His coming He’ll give those who are at His table a share in His rule, a share in His glory, and a share in His life with the Father. Then we’ll have new bodies, free from suffering and sin and, suitable for heaven.

We plan to celebrate the Lord’s supper on the first Sunday of the month. Do let Ian or Celeste know if you have any suggestions for making this important meal better.

The children and young adults of the Church family can’t join us at the table yet for Covid reasons, but we hope soon that all of the Church family will be able to be with us.

Your brother in Christ,

Ian

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