Stainglass window
Christmas 2011
3rd Dec Advent Party
12th Dec @ 2pm
Carol Service at Oak tree Court
16th Dec @ 2.30pm
Carol Service at Stratford Court
17th Dec @11am
Carol Singing outside Co-Op
18th Dec Nativity and Christingle Service and Carol Service
24th Dec @ 11pm (Service starts at 11.30pm
United Service at URC Etwall Rd
25th Dec @10am
Christmas Day Service
"Be Wise"
Dear Friends,
There is all the difference in the world between wisdom and knowledge. Knowledge is the accumulation of facts; wisdom is the sense to live right. Although knowledge is important, the Bible always plays the emphasis first and foremost on gaining wisdom.
It is in that context that the apostle Paul writes to the Church at Philippi, "Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders", by whom he means those who are not part of the Church family (Philippians 4; 5-6). He makes it clear by what follows that he has two things in mind when he encourages us to "be wise". They are still challenging to us:
1. OPPORTUNITY
"Make the most of every opportunity" is his first explanation of what it means to be wise.
As Christians, we are those who should always be seeking to share something of the love of God in Jesus Christ with others. This we do by our words and our lives. It is Paul's belief that there are countless opportunities for us to do this every week, but there is a danger we may miss these opportunities.
How ,many of us think after a situation, "Oh, I wish I'd said that! Or done that! Or hadn't said that!"? But the opportunity has gone. It has passed us by.
In the context of Church life too, it is important to make the most of every opportunity. Easter is a great opportunity to share something of what we believe with others. How about making the most of our special Easter services and inviting someone you know to join in coming along.
This month also sees the main events of the Cluster Mission over the weekend of the 7th to 9th April. They provide a great opportunity for us to encourage children, young people and adults to go along to something worthwhile. But it's all too easy for us not to bother, and to miss the opportunity that is provided.
The first ingredient of being wise is to make the most of every opportinity in life, grasping each other as chance to share something of God's love with those around us.
2. TACT
Having encouraged us to make the most of every opportunity, Paul quickly adds, "Let your conversation always be full of grace, seasoned with salt". There is an important balance to be grasped here. For it is the case that in our eagerness to make the most of every opportunity, we can come over to people as bossy and pushing and domineering, and rather than them experiencing something of God's love, they are put off God altogether!
Paul uses an illustration to describe our conversations with people. what we say needs to be "seasoned with salt". In other words, it shouldn't be insipid; we want to say something worthwhile. But on the other hand, we don't want to come over as overpowering, like a hot spicy curry!
Knowing what to say, and what not to say is one of the vital ingredients of being wise in the way we act.
Here then are Paul's two ingredients of wisdom. Let them be challenging to you in your Christian life; "Make the most of every opportunity", but "let your conversation be always full of grace".
Your friend and pastor,
Jonathan Calvert.