Dear Friends

We had fun at morning prayer earlier today, for when reading the familiar passage from Philippians, we read:
Therefore God also highly exalted him
   and gave him the name
   that is above every name, 
 so that at the name of Jesus
   every knee should bend,
   in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 
and every tongue should confess
   that Jesus Christ is Lord,

However our reader, was on automatic pilot, and instead read out “every knee shall bow”! – an understandable mistake as clearly the hymn that these verses influenced and shaped, was on her mind.

We reflected together, how hymns continue to be a means by which we can remember scripture, and hold on to precious truths concerning our God. I think I have shared before my childhood memories of my mum singing hymns whilst at the washing up sink. But it’s not just the old hymns that inspire, inform or offer comfort. A new song, 'New Wine', which has been introduced to Brunswick recently, clearly speaks to many regarding hard situations we might currently find ourselves in. Drawing from a number of images found in scripture it offers hope – so much so, that it is going to be used in a while in the funeral we are soon to hold in church of one taken tragically young.

As a choirboy - we used to use a hymnbook entitled 'Hymn’s Ancient and Modern', though most of its contents would now fall in the earlier category! However, may we continue to be blessed with hymns both old and new, allowing God through them to minister to us, whilst seeking to praise Him in return.

In the crushing
In the pressing
You are making new wine
In the soil
I now surrender
You are breaking new ground

So I yield to You into Your careful hand
When I trust You I don't need to understand
Make me Your vessel
Make me an offering
Make me whatever You want me to be
I came here with nothing
But all You have given me
Jesus bring new wine out of me

'Cause where there is new wine
There is new power
There is new freedom
And the Kingdom is here
I lay down my old flames
To carry Your new fire today

Keep safe
Keep in touch
Keep the faith.

Simon

Dear Friends

Before our eldest goes away over half term, volunteering as a dorm leader at a young peoples’ Christian House Party, I am trying to encourage her to FaceTime her grandma. Technology is amazing these days, to the effect that through the internet, my mum probably sees more of her youngest grandchildren across in the States in Seattle, than she does with those on these shores. As it used to be stated in the old BT adverts; “It’s good to talk”.

At PCC earlier this week, we looked at the topic of prayer, and came to the realisation that not only is it "good (for us) to talk" to God, but that it is something that God equally delights in. Imagine…our prayers make a difference to the Almighty, the King of creation! As well as it being of benefit to us, it is also to the benefit of the One in whose image we are made. I suspect that we’ll be exploring many of the possibilities of prayer in future months to come within the life of church. For the meantime though, I’m also encouraged that post Covid, we now as church feel it’s appropriate to re-introduce the opportunities to share in and receive prayer ministry. Taking place towards the end and beyond the morning service on a 4th Sunday (this one coming), there will be opportunities to bring before God, situations big and small with others who would love to pray with and for you.

So remember for both His and our sake, “it’s good to talk”!  

Keep safe
Keep in touch
Keep the faith.

​Simon

Dear friends, brothers, and sisters in Christ,
 
Hope and trust you all well, sometimes we waste our precious time by wishing or trying to know okay what’s next.? What will happen now? What is the conclusion? and many more questions come to our mind. I was reading and stuck with this verse and that’s from Hebrews 11:1
 
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
 
Friends, living by faith in this world doesn’t always make sense. It doesn’t mean our problems will vanish too. Sometimes faith changes our circumstances; other times it changes our perspective. How? By giving us the tenacity to hang in there in the midst of unpleasant circumstances.
 
I think we don’t need to know every detail in advance; that’s not how God works. Often, God doesn’t show us the big picture because we would overwhelm and think it was impossible. God wants to develop in us an unshakeable trust in God’s character and goodness; an acceptance that to fulfill God’s plan, I concluded that we must depend on His strength and believe and know that in all things, and in all situations God works for the good of those who love him.
 
The Alpha and Omega will continue to bless and protect us, our children, and our families too, no matter what the situation is, and will be in the future in Jesus' mighty name I pray.
 
God bless you all and may you all have a blessed day. 
 
Rev Kathreen Shahbaz

Dear Friends 

Nearly 80 years ago in the midst of World War 2, all 3 major political parties and politicians were united on the need to change the system of social care, and commissioned a report. The then Conservative Party supported aspects of the report. Churchill, the leader of the Conservative Party, coined the phrase 'from the Cradle to the Grave' in a radio broadcast in March 1943 to describe the need for some form of social insurance to give security to every class of citizen in the state.

However, Churchill was against too much state intervention and supported ‘freedom of choice’ in healthcare. The Liberal Party supported the Beveridge Report, including the inclusion of voluntary groups and charities in providing social security. The Labour Party agreed with the main recommendations of the Beveridge Report, but thought the State should provide full benefits and free healthcare for all and exclude voluntary societies. In the end, having won the General Election after the war, the Labour Party brought in their interpretation of the report. Ever since then however, the influence of the state has diminished, with an increased reliance on charities, philanthropists and others making up the deficit.

I share this brief history lesson with you, after reflecting on another busy day in our church building. For, after providing a venue to meet up together for Morning Prayer, our church was privileged  in ministering to so many people, almost literally from the cradle to the grave. In the morning, as well as a funeral for a 95 year old in the worship room, the hall was the venue for toddlers with 22 toddlers with their parents and carers, the lounge hosted the buzz armchair exercise session, and the youth room the LAB project, enhancing the confidence of long tern unemployed. Finally, the kitchen was used by Cracking Good Food, creating meals for those within and beyond our community. What a morning! We as a church are certainly enhancing the much needed services required by our community.

But it’s not just physical and social needs and opportunities that are addressed, but also the possibility of spiritual ones too. The things and possibilities of God are often discussed informally whenever people gather, and now with our Christian exploration course START, operating both on Monday afternoon and Wednesday evening, there are also more structured discussion opportunities too. There’s a lot going on! Please do pray for us, as we seek to minister “from the cradle to the grave”, and don’t be a stranger if you fancy coming along to anything.   

Keep safe
Keep in touch
Keep the faith

​Simon