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
‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY’
This month, on the 8th June, we celebrate Pentecost (or Whit Sunday). It is the celebration of the birthday of the Church, when God sent his Spirit on those first disciples of Jesus.
In his book on the Acts of the Apostles, Michael Green points out the marks of a church filled with God's Spirit. People were:
1) THRILLED TO BELONG- It was Billy Graham who asked, before one of his campaigns, 'Is your Church worth joining?' In other words, is it attractive to people, and if they come, will they find their needs met?
2)KEEN TO PRAY- The early Christians 'devoted themselves to prayer' (Acts 2:42). God responds to the united prayers of his people. Martin Luther wrote to his barber, 'Remember that you are kneeling or standing there alone, but that all devout Christians are standing there with you in one unanimous united prayer which God cannot ignore'. Apart from opportunities to pray in our regular Sunday morning service, we have a monthly Sunday evening prayer time- on the third Sunday of the month. Let me encourage you to try and make that a priority in your diary, and to join us in the Church Lounge each month.
3)HUNGRY TO LEARN- The early Christians also 'devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching'. They did not imagine that because they had received the Spirit, they could dispense with study. On the contrary, they are pictures sat at the apostles' feet, hungry to learn. That teaching has come down to us written in the Bible. So we too can devote ourselves to the apostles' teaching by devouting ourselves to the study of the Bible.
4)WILLING TO GIVE- 'There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need' (Acts 4: 34-35). As John Stott has put it, 'Christian fellowship is Christian caring, and Christian caring is Christian sharing'. It is no coincidence that Christian Aid week comes each year between Easter and Pentecost, for Christians filled with the Spirit of God are those who are willing to give to help those in need.
5) LONGING TO SHARE- The early Christians wanted to share their faith. :'We cannot help speaking about what we have heard and seen (Acts 4:20). The Holy Spirit is a missionary Spirit who created a missionary Church. Is there someone you could speak to about your faith, or invite to one of the Sunday services? Because the early Christians were longing to share their faith, 'the Lord added to their numbers daily those who were being saved' (Acts 2:47)
A Church that is filled with the Spirit is a praying, learning, giving, sharing Church. May these be the marks of the Church here at Hall Green as we seek to work and witness for our Lord. May we be in fellowship in which people are thrilled to belong, and through which others are attracted to Jesus.
You friend and pastor
Jonathan Calvert