Dear Friends 

Whilst I am a fan of holding to and celebrating different seasons of the church calendar, once in a while you get knocked off course! So it was last night at our last PCC of the current term. When reflecting on the past year, we were moved away from the usual Lenten sentiments, rocketing towards a general sense of thanksgiving, which is far more associated with the season of autumn. For when offered the opportunity to recall highlights of the last year, those gathered went into overdrive! Here are just a few;

PCC observed highlights;

• Thank offering raised for Operation Restoration
• Houseparty
• Keep well and warm
• Start  and CAP courses
• Confirmation
• The Archbishop visiting
• Closure of the A6
• Silver Eco award
• Experience Christmas and Easter
• God’s amazing generosity and provision for us.

Now of course the list isn’t exhaustive and when it comes to our AGM held in late April, I’d encourage us to add our own reflections, but in the midst of national woes of strikes, inflation, and general incompetence, and additional strife across the world, we felt blessed and encouraged as a PCC that there is still much to be thankful for. I trust whilst reading this, you will be too. 

Keep safe
Keep in touch
Keep the faith.

Simon

"For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope". Jeremiah 29:11
 
Dear friends and families,
 
Hope you all are doing well in Christ. I wanted to share with you all, a little thought regarding the plans of God for our lives which we know but easily forget as well. Then God reminds us through His word, people, and His own spirit. I was having little ups and down with this matter but thanks to God’s love and care who give us peace and assurance just in time. Sometimes we overthink the situation and worry about many things happening around us. Do we know how much it overrules our life? It's just like a snowball; it starts small, but as you roll it over and over in your mind, it becomes bigger and bigger until it has the potential to bury you. What’s the answer? “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5)
 
We should know and remember all the time that God is bigger than anything.  For sure he has better plans not only better but also plans with a great future and hope for all of us. Planning involves thinking, placing, and executing. God does exactly the same. He thinks, place us in the right position, and executes what is good for us which is again I say God has plans not to harm us but plans to give us hope and a future.
 
In this Lent season, Let us keep reminding ourselves not to overstress about everything but to dwell in God’s words and love. God loves us and He also loves his creation, but He will work according to His plans and not according to our own plans. He is a way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, and light in the darkness. Even if we cannot see it, even if we cannot feel it but God never stops, I repeat God never stops working for our future and hope.
 
"For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope". Jeremiah 29:11
 
With lots of love and blessings.
Rev Kathreen Shabaz

Dear Friends 

Over the many years I’ve been at Brunswick, one of the high spots of a working day has always been when popping across to our local primary school. Whether the old site (for those who remember it) or the new building, it’s always been an uplifting experience, taking in the enthusiasm of motivated staff and pupils alike – a scene of busyness, enjoyment in learning, and fun. Today, due to strike action, school was a much quieter affair, and as a result was less of an encouraging place to be when visiting. 

Just as a church isn’t really the building but the congregation, so a school without children is quite a dispiriting prospect. Conversely, as we reminded ourselves this morning at prayer - there is real encouragement to be found when declaring our faith together. Indeed, in our ATS services, again much encouragement is experienced  when sharing blessings and answers to prayer.

As we find ourselves in the middle of Lent, and also in the middle of depressing weather, let's seek out opportunities to be with fellow members whenever and wherever possible, acknowledging the wisdom of a much loved Fischey song;

We all need encouragement, I do believe
We all need encouragement, like the air we breathe

Keep safe
Keep in touch
Keep the faith.

Simon

Dear friends and families, 
  
Hope you all are doing well with your Lent promises, On the 7th of March we celebrated my special saint day for Saints Perpetua and Felicity they both were Christian martyrs who lived during the early persecution of the Church in Africa by Emperor Severus. 
  
Every time I read or watch them, they always encouraged me. so, I was thinking to share and encourage you all as well. Perpetua and Felicity were part of a group of five catechumens apprehended in Carthage in 203AD. for the practice of the faith. Perpetua was a well-educated twenty-two-year-old married mother with a nursing infant, and Felicity was her servant, herself seven months pregnant.  Together they and their companions were imprisoned and roughly treated by the soldiers as they awaited their martyrdom. 
  
No doubt, following the path of faith is not an easy task. As we know from Bible, our own experience, from others’ experiences, and from these two Saints Perpetua and Felicity. In the case of Saint Felicity and Saint Perpetua, following Jesus Christ was not an easy task as well. There was a lot of trouble in their life.

Dear Friends 

Dydd Gwyl Dewi Dedwydd! – or for the non Welsh speakers amongst us; Happy St David’s day!

As well as some spectacular miracles, Dewi – Sant (St David) is remembered for the words of his last sermon where he encouraged his congregations to:
“Be joyful, and keep your faith and your creed. Do the little things that you have seen me do and heard about. And you and I will walk the path that our fathers have trod before us”

A church I am familiar with used to have the motto: “Doing small things well”  – a recognition that to display faithfulness in the small areas of responsibility that God had given them, was just as important to God than flashy expression found elsewhere.
​
At last night’s PCC we expressed our disappointment with the Diocese for seemingly being passed over with sizeable resources being channelled to a new church on our doorstep. However, as we chatted and vented, it became clear in the receipt of a number of grants recently received, God was still endorsing and supporting  our commitment to love and serve those within and beyond our immediate community. Whilst 'little' in worldly terms, we had a real sense that we were and are operating under the smile of God.

So just as for our church community so also for us as individuals. May we too in our encounters and actions this week be similarly encouraged to take care and pay attention to ‘the little things', that in them our God will be honoured and glorified.

Keep safe
Keep in touch
Keep the faith.

Simon

P.S.  A further encouragement to us over the last 7 days, was the uptake of those who attended our Ash Wednesday service, and the Sunday Lent group too. Even if you are not able to join us on Sunday evenings, why not in community with those of us who can, join us in following the set readings and questions each day that are found within the 'Dust and Ashes' resource - now available as a free app on your phones?