Today
10.30 am: We have the third in our series on love, based on 1 Corinthians 13:4b-5 – Love does not put itself first. This will be a local arrangement.
6.30 pm: Holy Communion here at Gunville, led by Rev John Izzard.
Thursday 23rd February:
Those who are able are invited to join in fasting for all or part of the day, as part of our preparation for the Vision Morning on Saturday.
Saturday 25th February
Church Vision Morning 9.30-1.00. Everyone in the congregation is urged to come along to join in thinking, talking and praying about the direction our church should be taking. Coffee and pastries from 9.15.
There is a leaflet with further information: please make sure you get one.
Sunday 26th February:
Our final week on 1 Corinthians 13: Love protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres. Our preacher will be Jane Dronfield.
310,000 Steps!
Sam Godley is walking 10,000 steps every day in March for Cancer Research. She says:
“Thanks for taking the time to visit my Giving Page. Cancer is happening right now, which is why I’m fundraising right now for Cancer Research UK. There’s no time to lose! Donate to my page today and help bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.”
https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/samanthas-walk-all-over-cancer-giving-page-2150
TEMPTATIONS TRAIL
Emergencies Appeal
The retiring offering last week for Turkey and Syria, including some online donations, came to £144, and this has been sent off. Thank you.
Message from our Minister
Most of us dutifully maintain the rhythm of putting out our rubbish every other week. The intervening weeks our recycling is collected. Much of what used to be thrown out in the rubbish bin must now go into the recycling bin. The system of alternating the collection seems to be working fairly well, with black bins all lined up outside on sentry duty one week and light green bins the next week.
However, despite our best efforts to throw out or recycle, often we can still end up accumulating clutter. The consumer-focussed society in which we live drives us to clamour for more and more, whether we need it or not. Clutter may also creep into our minds and hearts if we allow unhealthy or unhelpful attitudes to distort or detract us from living our lives as followers of Jesus.
Lent is a time for self-examination and reflection. The weeks leading up to Easter enable us to turn our focus to the things that really matter and which have an eternal significance in our lives.
Amongst the clutter and stuff of life and the busy-ness and the noise, how can we listen to God’s gentle still small voice? How do we keep our eyes focused upon Jesus and in following him? Human nature being what it is will always find it a struggle to put aside its own desires. However, if we decide to create space for God to speak, to reveal more of himself to us, and to ask for strength to walk in his way, he will help us.
Sacrifice is the hallmark of Jesus’ work on the cross. We, through his saving grace, are given the promise of being forgiven, renewed and restored. Lent affords us the time and space to clear out the cumulative dross found cluttering our life, resolving anew to give room at the very centre of our life for Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, to rule and reign within us.
God’s richest blessings to you all, Rev John Izzard
How others see us
The following are personal comments, not necessarily official church views!
The most important work of the church is of course the worship of God and the bringing of good news to others. However, often what others see, as they walk past or come to events on the premises, is the building, and they may, perhaps unconsciously, judge us by what they see.
– Which is a preliminary to saying that parts of our building are looking tired, and perhaps uncared for. This is not a criticism of anyone: Sam does a super job in keeping things clean and fresh-smelling, and Michael, as our only steward, is always doing stuff behind the scenes. Our thanks to these and others.
Have a look round: you will find bits of repainting needed, marks to be erased, weeds and litter to eliminate, heavier furniture to be moved to enable cleaning behind, clutter to sift through, out-of-reach cobwebs needing ladder access. It was once a tradition to have a Spring-Clean Day each year. “Ah, but there’s not many of us, and we’re all older.” What about asking people from the community, especially if they sometimes use the premises, to help out? The cost to us would be a few extra doughnuts, but the benefits of working together might be greater. Is this worth a try? – L&M
