Stainglass window
Forthcoming Events
Bible Sunday Lenten Lunch at St Ambrose Barlow RC Church 24th March
City of Birmingham Brass Band 31st March 7.30pm
Easter Sunday April 8th
Dear Friends
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one- I in them and you in me- so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me
John 17:20-23 (Today's New International Version)
When the World Council of Churches in 1951 defined ecumenism as 'everything that relates to the whole task of the whole Church to bring the Gospel to the whole world' maybe it had in mind Jesus's prayer for all believers. As believers united in Christ through the Spirit, the Chuch should be one, not a church with division. However the New Testament suggests that believers came to have different standpoints about Christ and a model of 'unity in diversity' is evident. This, I believe, is the way the denominations of the Christian Church today interact- where in unity we recognise and even celebrate differences but work together to build the Kingdom of God.
A Greek word that reflects the early Church is Koinonia- meaning fellowship of communion. In recent times the use of Koinonia has become very important in ecumenical dialogues because it enables Christians to recognise the certain yet imperfect communion they share. As part of Churches Together in Hall Greeen we, as Baptists, have many opportunities to share ecumenically with other Church denominations. The CTHG council is one such way and maybe God is calling you to get involved in this ecumenical area of Church life. I believe the New Testament understanding of koinonia, is present, among Churches in Hall Green, and will in time, bring the Church closer to the prayer that all may be one.
Every Blessing
Paul