April 2011 Minister's Message
Created on Sunday, 24 April 2011 11:49
Dear Friends,
As I write this letter, the sun is shining and the flowers are beginning to appear and I feel like the winter has been very long this time. We will soon be at the time of Easter when we will be celebrating in a special way the death and resurrection of Jesus. We don’t wait until then as we believe as a church in living out our faith on a daily basis and as we regularly come together with other Christians. It was so good to share in our recent AGM during which we were reminded just how God is continuing to touch peoples lives today.
That was the theme of our church elders thinking as we continue to move forward in faith and seek to help many people, near and far, to know God’s love for them. We took the decision to set up an ‘outreach fund’ which once we have finished paying for our building will pay for a variety of mission projects abroad and in this country and local community. This is a bold and generous response to a faithful God who has blessed our life here, and I hope that as many people as possible will get involved and support us. You will be hearing more of this soon!
The task of sharing the good news of Jesus in word and deed is our priority but is not always easy. There are so many needs around us and so many barriers to people growing in faith. The developing crisis in Japan following the earthquake and Tsunami makes it hard for some to think about a loving powerful God. When we come to the Cross we do, of course, come to a place of innocent suffering. The idea of a suffering God and Saviour is difficult to comprehend but it is a constant reminder to me that Christianity is at its heart a faith where God has got involved with us.
I think each one of us has a story to tell about what Jesus means to us, no matter how mature or new our faith may be, or whether we are ‘just looking’. May I encourage you to find some simple ordinary words to say this month to describe who Jesus is and what He has done. This is especially powerful when it also involves the challenges you have faced as a person.
An old hymn says 'this is my story, this is my song' and I pray that, with Gods help, you will find the words. May I, as I did at our AGM, encourage you to "be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share." (1 Timothy 6:18 NIV) With best wishes to you this Easter and every day.
Your friend & minister
Eddie
