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
Dear Friends,
You will know by now, I am sure, that I tend to be a very placid person, and very rarely get angry. But just occasionally something happens to make me lose my cool!
At a ministers’ Conference last Autumn, a minister whom I know by sight came up to speak to me. It has to be said that the conversation did not go well from the start. He began by sayng to me, ‘I see you’ve moved church-I’m surprised you’ve gone somewhere like Hall Green Baptist Church!’ And then it went downhill from there: ‘My sister and husband and family have just recently moved to Hall Green, just around the corner from your church,’ he continued. ‘I told them not to go there, but to go to XXXChurch (I won’t give away the name!) where they’ll get proper worship and teaching.’ It was at this point that I felt like following in Jesus’ footsteps and overturning a few tables!
But, sad to say, his understanding of what the church reflects that of many people n our society: church is something you get something from, not something you give something to. It is the consumerist mentality that I spoke about at our AGM in November. At church, just as in the supermarket, we are the consumers whom the managers have to keep happy. If the church is unable to supply our needs, then we shop around until we find one that does.
How different to the understanding of the church presented in the pages of the New Testament. The first Christians understood it not in terms of what they could get out of it, but what they could put into it. It was where they expressed their responsibilities to God and to one another. They were disciples, not consumers.
At our Sunday morning service this year, we are exploring just what those responsibilities are. There is a part to be play for every one of us- from the youngest to the oldest.
I hope you’ve made a note of the date of the next Church Awayday- Saturday February 28th, and we will make every effort to be there, We’re going to be thinking about how we can use the gifts that God has given us. I’m calling the day ‘Stirring for Beginners’ inspired by the apostle Paul’s words to Timothy: ‘Stir up the gifts of God which is in thee’ (2 Timothy 1:6-AV).
Don’t just be a consumer of religion- is a disciple of Christ: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it’ (Mark 8:34-35).
Your friend and pastor
Jonathan Calvert