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Christ-Like
Christians!
We are Christians. We are saved by Christ.
By our faith in him we can be at peace with God
now and for ever.
We respond to this love in gratitude
to him who has done everything for us. We do what
we can, but sometimes we try to do it on our own,
and encounter difficulties.
Yet God offers us the power of his Holy
Spirit, so let us turn to him and allow him in
to help us.
We wonder about evangelism: we wonder
why people do not turn to Christ. But are we afraid
to allow God fully into our lives in his power
and love?
In one of the most important events of
the year, Dr John Stott called on Christians to
be more like Christ (you can see the Church Times
report on the middle pages – and the full
version is available in Church)
We need to take notice of what he says:
look to the Gospels. Can we imitate what we learn
about Jesus there?
In many ways we are trying to let people
see the love of God in action in what we do in
Church and in our daily lives and at Koinonia
- the house in Tone Close. We also show it in
our support for Mark, for flood victims (collection
first two Sundays in August for the British Red
Cross), for Christian Aid, Samaritans Purse, and
so on. And there is a commitment to each other
which many would envy.
We have various help groups at the house
who would not be giving service to the people
of Bettws were it not for that same house. We
work there ourselves. In September Revd David
Collingbourne is coming to offer his expertise
on benefits to our community.
If you would like to be involved in any
of this, come to the meeting on Wednesday August
8th – 7.00pm in 1, Tone Close, We’ll
be talking about the Church Office there, and
also about the Ministry of Healing and Ministry
to those who are bereaved, and other ways you
may want to be involved.
Thanks
To Ann and Co who are the enthusiastic
experts on taking items to the Auction at Bettws
Rugby Club; they’ve raised a nice bit of
money for the funds.
Harvest Festival
is on October 7th. This year we’ll
make it Come to Church Sunday. Last year’s
efforts were not impressive – fewer people
came to Church on the day than usual! Sad, you
may say, but who did you invite?
Henry
Rosie's
Page
Well, summer is here, a time for rest
and relaxation. A time to enjoy being with family
and friends. Then it rains, not unusual for a
British summer, but this time the consequences
have been terrible. Flooding is the main topic
of the headline in our papers and on our televisions,
first in the north of England and now, in Gloucestershire
and the Midlands, Oxfordshire and parts of Wales.
However dramatic the pictures are, we must remember
that the effect on people’s lives is devastating,
whether it’s the loss of a home or ruined
crops. Yet, have you noticed how people are helping
each other by making sure their neighbours are
safe and have fresh drinking water. The retained
Firemen, helping others whilst their own homes
have been flooded; the Armed forces rescuing people
and making sure that 1000’s of gallons of
drinking water gets to where it’s needed.
Humanity has a great capacity to be generous and
courageous.
This is an example, of ‘Love Thy Neighbour’.
Nobody in those areas thought I won’t help
them, because they are not worthy of my time and
effort. So next time when you are tempted to think
the worst of anyone reflect on what Jesus would
do.
As many of you will know we have had
five windows broken by vandals at the church and
community house. Upsetting, yes, disappointing
certainly. But so many people of all ages from
Bettws have stopped me on the street or come to
the house to ask what happened, offering help
and kind words. I would like to take this opportunity
to say ‘Thank You’ to them.
When I was called to my ministry, I wrote
on one of the many forms I had to fill, that working
with people is a frustrating joy and I still mean
it. Working together, we can show generosity to
our neighbours, we can help when needed. Things
will go wrong, we will have differences of opinion,
but by respecting each other and being kind, we
will, with Gods help and guidance, be able to
be good neighbours.
A great example of this was the Carnival
Parade, the community enjoying, the event and
taking part.
Christmas Shoe
Boxes
Sorry!! I know it’s only August but it’s
the time of year when we need to start thinking
about our annual shoebox donations
Items which can be placed into shoeboxes this
Year include the following:
